What is the best visa option for joining my Thai wife and kids in Thailand?

Get a single entry tourist visa before you come here from the thai consulate in your country before you come here.

Once here get the 400K baht transferred into a thai bank account in your name only, then go to the immigration office and get the hand out listing the documentation requirements to apply for a 90 day Non-O visa based on marriage to a thai for 2000baht.

you will apply, it will go under review, then you go back and get the Non-O visa and new 90 day stamp inked into your passport.

After that you wait until you have 30 days or less left on that stamp and then apply for a year extension based on marriage to a thai for 1900baht at the immigration office. That will go under consideration for 30 days then you go back and get the year extension inked in

That's the easiest way to do it in my books, even though it does require 4 trips to the immigration office it is NOT beyond the ability of most people and can be done if you just plan your work and then work your plan.