My daughter and family (toddler) moved here and stayed for 2 years. They luckily didn´t sell their house just rented it out and rented here but they went back heavily in debt and are only just several years later getting themselves back to their pre-Spain basis.

There is none. Why do you think 56% of young Spanish are unemployed and are moving to the UK. My friend´s daughter is a qualified journalist and she is working as a chambermaid in Brighton.

It's not head-sticking, or "knowing best", as such - at least not intentionally.
ISTM when new people come here, telling us of their plans / dreams to move to Spain, they are doing two things. First, they are opening themselves up as being vulnerable: as all beginners do, in any field when they engage in conversation with "experts". The second thing they are doing is looking for validation, rather than advice.

Now, people wouldn't get as far as searching out this forum (other forims are available, just not as pleasant, welcoming and experienced as this one ) unless they've already made a large emotional investment in their "future" in Spain. Hence when they do tell us their innermost secrets and dreams and people here suck their teeth (if they still have any), shake their heads and collectively criticise those dreams and burst the metaphorical bubble, it takes a bit of getting used to. Not to say resentment against the nay-sayers.
Sure, we probably save a lot of those newcomers 10's of thousands of £££s for every one who takes the advice to not uproot their young families, but you never get thanks for all the problems you avoid. But it's probably the only cure for "A place in the Sun", even if it's not so well publicised.

You don't care enough - yet you stalk me over different sites and leave such a long message?

Despite having seen it so many times, I'm still surprised by the incredible lure of Spain for future expats. Most of the newcomers are aware of the terrible problems facing Spain at present, problems facing Spanish nationals and expats alike, problems that were not there in past years.

Yet the newcomers are prepared to buy into a falling housing market and bring their children to a country where children are facing a bleak future and are leaving in droves, forced to leave because there are no jobs for them.

Is it the lure of the sun? The desire to escape from something back home? A sense of adventure?

I don't know the answers but love to see the happy look on their faces when they come into arrivals at the airports. I can only really wish them all the luck in the world and wouldn't want to break anyone's dreams.

But leave your money at home if you can.

You must admit that your recomposed family is fairly unusual compared to other families planning to move to Spain. Apart from all the other negative factors mentioned above, bear in mind that the Spanish Property and Inheritance Laws are probably similar to the French ones, i.e. completely different from those in the UK, and that you must get professional advice if you buy a house, particularly re your Succession. I won't bore you with what happens in France re legally unrelated heirs, but would strongly advise you to consult a Notario (sp) before buying, in order to draw up a Will to cover every family member's interests.
We are all trying to be helpful. Most of the posters have lived in Spain for years and know what they are talking about. If you don't believe them, that's your choice....
As suggested, come over during the winter months, but come alone, leaving your OH to work, your youngest children to continue their schooling and your eldest to continue ante-natal care and birth in the UK. You can see on the spot how the Autonomo system works, check on the Tax Residency question, healthcare coverage, etc... without disturbing your family's routine...
Good luck, whatever (but please don't change your mind and decide on France instead!)

I thought the summer would be best because of the kids summer holidays. Also you'll soon find out if you can cope with the summer heat.

It's different though if you're on a holiday, even an extended trip. No need to catch the bus or train to work, no need to dress accordingly.
Perhaps the best 6 week period would be from mid September to the end of October. Arrive in the last bit of the summer heat. Then experience some heavy rain, and then see the place in cooler darker circumstances.

We just came back from mallorca last thursday, having been to spain several times.
Kids did great in the heat, not a single complaint. Just made sure they drank plenty of fluids.

That's a good start. People on here are trying to be helpful, don't give up on your dream just snooze for a while longer

As you must have said yourself as a parent. "Things will be better in the morning"

It´s a cold winter day in February when the rain is lashing down and where you are living is damp and cold and you have to wear your dressing gown over your clothes to keep warm. Not many places in Spain have central heating and the houses are built with tile floors.

But it seems to me that you will come no matter what, so really no advice is necessary.

Except to say that if anyone is desperate to unload a 4/5 bedroom house that may not be legal, has dodgy electrics and a roof that leaks, you'll never have a better chance - as long as it's a short walk from the beach that's all that matters.

I've come across this site before, by a French guy Pierre who lives in Madrid, and he gives some very useful tips on finding a job in Spain.
Now before people jump on me, it's tailored more at people moving to a big city like Madrid, and assumes you may be able to do some English teaching if other options fail - which may not be an option for many. Indeed it may not be suitable for the OP
But I'm putting it here, as some may find it useful - the part about using your “competitive advantage” as a foreigner (and an English speaker to boot) is particularly relevant. There are cases of IT people, SEO experts and the like finding their niche in Spain, so it's not 100% total doom out there.

http://moving2madrid.com/how-to-find-a-job-in-spain/

We moved here 4 years ago with 2 children who are now in the state school system. From experience of settling the children into school you really will need to let them finish their education at an international school my children were younger, the oldest being 10 but it took her 2 years to get back to the grades she had in the UK and it was stressful hardwork for her and me! They had spanish lessons before they came and were surrounded and helped by family who spoke spanish but it was a nightmare. The way children are taught and the emphasis on spanish history, regional geography etc made helping her difficult. Your children will really struggle at their ages in the stae school system. You will not be entitled to child benefit or tax credits. If you carried on your business and registered as autonomo you and your younger children would qualify for free healthcare. My husband has not been able to find work, he is bilingual and originally from Spain, he now flies to work in the UK, and is autonomo here where he also gets some part time work. Autonomo, gestor and tax payments set us back about 600 euros per month.