blackjack17:We moved away from have one large tent, to having a central shelter and smaller tents around it (mixture of hiking and warehouse ones). The smaller tents are more robust, when it rains you can move them under the shelter. If only part of the family is going then just take the shelter and one tent. Friends coming then adding extra tents is easier.
I 100% endorse this setup - what's great about it is you have plenty of privacy for older kids, a communal space for meals, plus lots and lots of shelter from both rain and sun.