Should We Get A Toy Poodle? Tell Me About Them!

I'm sorry but I have to highjack here slightly. Yes, some breeds are prone to be barkier than others. Anyone who tells you otherwise may also be trying to sell you a bridge in Brooklyn. I can personally attest to a couple shelties who live across the street from me who, in my most mean and sleep-deprived moments, I wish were debarked. They bark from the second they are let out into the yard until the second they are brought back into the house. I also share a duplex with a beagle, another notoriously vocal breed (perhaps THE most vocal). And I share my life with a coonhound, a breed specifically bred to BARK and BARK LOUD. He doesn't really bark unless he's hunting or distressed but if breed didn't matter to barkiness, what on earth all these coonhound breeders doing breeding dogs for barking (well, really baying and bawling)? They do it because you can certainly breed for such things, and other times the barkiness comes as a "piggyback" on to another trait being bred for. A naturally barky dog can be trained to be a little less barky, but nurture is only part of the equation. Nature plays a big role.

If you don't have allergy issues that require a low-shed coat, I would look into who's waiting for you in your local shelters and rescues and talk to the staff and volunteers about which dogs seem more reserved in their barking habits.

Toy Poodles are great little dogs, and smart. I have a 15 year old Miniature Poodle named Darby. He is the greatest little snuggler.
In my experience both as an owner and working for a groomer..Poodles are yappy.
I wouldn't bank on being able to train that trait off..but all is possible.
Be prepared to groom your dog alot..and pay for grooming on a scheduled basis. Working for a groomer, I am amazed at how many people buy a Poodle puppy without ever having considered it's grooming needs. Find a good groomer and make sure your dogs experiences being groomed are good ones from the start..don't go cheap. Plan on brushing regularly..several times a week. It breaks my heart when people bring their dog in every 6 months and haven't touched the dog in between grooms..they have no clue how painful and miserable it is to live with mats. You should plan on a grooming appointment about every 6 weeks give or take, to keep your dog in good shape.
Lastly...dental care is essential with this breed(and many other small breeds) for some reason the little dogs seem to be prone to bad oral health. I have had Darby since he was 8 months old and he has had regular cleanings and care and yet..it's still a struggle. I see this alot working for a groomer too. Start brushing young..get them used to it, and feed a quality diet.
If all of that is not daunting to you..go for it! They are fun little dogs.

I would suggest a mini before a toy.  My parents bought us a pup from a toy poodle breeder that grew up to be tall enough to fit the mini standard, and he was far more balanced and calm than his littermates (my aunt was the breeder) or any of the litters that came after.  Be very, very careful that you are not purchasing from a puppymill I CAN'T STRESS IT ENOUGH AUGH!    My mom bought a toy later in life from a 'mall puppy store where he was just sooooo cute!!!' and he turned out to be nigh mentally retarded, nothing like the wonderful dog we'd had years before.

Socialize him well as a puppy, and make sure you are incredibly consistant when teaching him tricks and commands, because poodles are insanely intelligent.  They're also generally very obediant, even with 'best effort' inexperienced training.  They're high energy, so it's great that you've got kids, because they can take turns taking him on nice long, fun walks.  Crate train him, not because he's likely to be destructive, but because you plan to be gone during the day.  Routine is best, as with any dog.  The barking will likely be your biggest challenge.  Poodles like to talk, although none of the dogs my aunt bred ever displayed aggression, they just wanted to barkbarkbark at the door.  You're going to have to accept that he will bark a fair amount and work with him a lot to lessen what you can.  Obediance classes with him should be super fun, by the way, as he is likely to be the smartest little devil there. 

Grooming you can do yourself, but it's tricky in spots.  These dogs have to be sheared like little lambs, which you know, but you have to do it frequently enough that they don't get poo stuck to thier behinds.  Let me super-stress that you should groom or 'fake groom' them constantly as a puppy or they will be terrified and unco-operative for the rest of their lives, which isn't safe for them or fun for you.  If you have the money, find a well-priced grooming service and have them do it.  They can show you how to clip his nails, too.  By the way, I reccommend a black mini with a 'puppy' cut.  The lighter coats stain around the mouth no matter what you do, and that drives me nuts.  Cuts other than the puppy cut make them look (in my opinion) prissy and unintelligent.  A black mini with a puppy cut will look like a miniature black lamb, and be cute as a button.  Good luck. 

EDIT:  Forgot to mention this.  Poodles have trouble with cataracts in their old age, so that's something to watch out for and ask your breeder about, but it doesn't tend to occur until about 9, 10, or even much later.  Our 'toy' lived for 16 years, and his only health issue was his weight, thanks to the severe lack of walks after I moved out of the house.  Everyone on that side of the family had poodles, and cataracts was the only health issue they seemed inclined to, except the small toy poodles, who all had severe anxiety issues and two who developed a heart murmur very young.