Idea for relaxing 40th birthday night with children. Is it possible?

[shabbadab]

Looking for inspiration for planning my husbands 40th over the August BH weekend. Was wondering whether to have the night away with my DH on our own (big ask baby sittign wise) and then do the actual birthday day bit at home with children or whether there might be an option for my DH to have a good time and not just feel on Dad duty where we could all go? (2 and 3 year old in tow, so pretty full on and early bedtimes). Am I being silly and should just go all guns blazing for the night away on our own!!?

I'm having the same issues with my DH's 40th!
We have no real childcare, just friends who could probably do an evening.
The plan is to go to the Theatre, just us. Then, on the Saturday after his Birthday we're aiming to do a picnic in the park with posh picnic food, Champagne & some little games etc for the vast amount of children that will be attending!!
We live in Central London & don't have a garden. Also most of our friends have relocated miles away with their young families so getting everyone together is a bit of a nightmare.
If you've got childcare, do the overnighter!!

Thanks pnmp. I really like the picnic idea. DCs have stayed overnight with my parents 2 times but massive ask and might be awkward (long story) so I think that would be an option. What would you do if the weather was awful? We wouldn't have the capacity to have everyone at ours if it was raining etc!!

I'm not really planning on an alternative plan! I imagine we'd just cancel & rearrange!!
My friend & I are going to set it all up, so that by the time DH gets there, it'll be festooned with bunting etc. I'm going to get a few rotisserie chickens & baguettes, salads & fruit. Nothing to expensive or fiddly.

Thank you pnmp, really good idea which I might pinch! ; ). Hope it goes well! x