welcome!
we have tons of info for you. it will be overwhelming for a while.
here's what i posted not long ago for some one just like you.
http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=319377.msg3360880#msg3360880as said, all ice is not to be trusted or is unsafe. that being said, think about floatation ice suits at least for the adult.
http://www.strikerstore.com/default.aspnot sure how old the other two are, but at least think about the suits for them too. teach them how to get out of a break thru. show them you tube videos and have the emergency spikes for every one. main thing is to not panic even tho it hasn't happened yet. you could practice near shore.
new ice is slippery and so slip protection will be needed to stay safer too on your boots. i use ice racing screws on 4 pairs of boots. then i have them all of the time, not just on lakes. ice and hard packed snow is every where in winter. otherwise buy some thing temp like kahtoolas.
http://kahtoola.com/product/microspikes/you didn't say how heavy the load will be either, but you can put holes on the out side of a circle or square and sit in the inside of that with you backs to each other. another way is drill two holes on one side so two of you are are facing the same side and then make two more on the other side of the hub and two face opposite directions. you could have the kids on the inner side (center) with an adult at his/her side and do the same with the other end.
in other words, you can spread the weight out better than making a small square in the center and fishing the outsides of that.
an 8 inch hole will be dangerous for kids! they can break a leg in it or some one else s walking fast. consider swapping it for a 6" or 7 at the biggest.
bring those anti fatigue standing mats sold at harbor freight to keep every ones feet on so they don't get cold feet as fast.
when walking to your spot or back to shore, have the most experienced person in the lead and carry a rope for emergency and have the other walk your steps for the most part. the adults that have the float suits on can help get the kids out, but if the kids have one on too, they will be floating much higher on the water and will easier to get out. that's another reason for the adults to wear one. so they can get out easier on their own. have the other adult in the rear. have good flashlights for getting off in the dark. maybe use two sleds to spread the weight out even more. buy the same exact ones so they fit inside each other for transport.
4" is enough to have fun with your family. many individuals go with 3" and some go on 2", but they stay in shallow water so if it breaks, they can keep standing on the bottom.
any one i know goes when its 3" but keep it spread out. use a sled so the weight isn't on your shoulders and have a rope in the sled that you know how to throw. they make a throw bag rope that would be a great choice. use longer ropes on your sled, it helps pull easier by not lifting with every step and can aid in a break thru. if you don't have slip protection on your boots and have to aid in pulling some one out, you'll slip towards them.
you have to think ahead and think worse case scenario, because it might just happen one time. i fell in when over 30 people were fishing all around me on a fast moving river. my floating ice suit parka kept my head from going under, but brought me back to the top like a piece of toast in a toaster, that it saved my life and made getting out a breeze.
some people who don't fish but enjoy walking on ice use a walking stick and tap the ice and learned what to listen for, ice anglers use a spud and hit the surface hard in the same spot twice. if it goes thru back the bus up and wait for more ice or check another lake.
learn how the lake freezes so you know before going on it how it froze or where the thinnest ice will be when you walk it. the center is normally the last to freeze because of wind.
you should go by your self for a while or rather, not take the family until you know its safe for them, but you shouldn't never go alone either in case you or your friend needs help. bring a garbage bag of extra clothes and towels and blankets for any one/every one in case any one/every one breaks thru.
your kids should have a whistle around their neck if they are old enough to go exploring on their own so they can be heard if they fall in.
another good choice for emergency recovery is take a boat seat cushions and have rope on those so it has weight if you have to throw it to your kid or spouse or friend or any victim. it can be used to kneel on or sit on too. use i clip on the seat end, so it can be removed and wrapped around the a person. pretty sure the seat handle would rip off, but not positive on that one.
so your not exhausted getting every thing out there, make smitty skies for when theirs snow on top or if its hard to pull your gear. use a long rope on it too and fasten it to the first raisers, not the tips of the skies. using the tips of the skies pushes the weight of your momentum to the rear of the skies, but makes it easy to turn.
good ice anchors that are fast to install and remove will be nice. gander mountain sells a 6 pack of eskimo anchors in a pouch that holds them in a flat roll and get a drill attachment by eskimo. they do go in easy by hand if you have to wait on the drill. but a drill is what many of us use to make our holes now. that 8" will be a real hard sell for a drill to turn. . like i said, you should swap it out for a 6" and get a drill to turn it for you. i use ridgid because they have a lifetime warranty, but milwaukee just cam out with the strongest at 1200 inch pounds on the version 2 fuel and 5 amp batteries. then you'll just need an adapter. i use the ice master because it won't let the auger fall off from the chuck and it has saved my augers many times.
so it's not just how thick the ice is where you measure it, it's about staying safe the entire time your on it. it's not all the same thickness and you can have a spring make weak areas under the ice. stay away from the drain holes. they look like blood shot eye balls!
you might consider getting a camera for the kids and wife to keep them busy, if/when they get bored from fishing.
use a safer heater like mr heater big buddy on sale at cabelas for the refurbs. they are 90$ right now and 156$ new. bring lots of gas!
http://www.cabelas.com/product/fishing/ice-fishing/portable-heaters-accessories|/pc/104793480/c/104735880/sc/104382180/mr-heater-reconditioned-portable-big-buddy-heater/1089658.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fportable-heaters-accessories%2F_%2FN-1100507%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104382180stay safe and ask questions so you are better prepared when you hit the ice. most of them have been asked before, so you can read them via the sites search engine.
