so you was worrying about all of you travelling together and not leaving your kids behind..

you just need to read the air ticket threads on how people have managed to book tickets when they've travelled with their partner to the uk.

i think i go my misses to reserve 2 one way air tickets to the UK from a local travel agents in the phils for a few days. she told me the date and flight, and i managed to book a flight with the same airline, i'd travel 2wks b4 her departure date (so i would have 2 wks hols in the phils ) and i managed to book the return flight on the same departure flight as the misses, i phoned the airline and made sure we had 3 seats together

but its probably better if your hubby could book from the uk a return flight for him and 3 one ways for you and the kids.