You are still PR because your PR was never officially revoked. If you come to Canada with your landing documents and if they let you in without reporting you, you have the option to stay for 2 years and thereby put your PR status back in good standing.
Your landing papers should get you most things like a SIN, health care etc. but you may run into situations where you will be asked for a valid PR card which you will be unable to provide because you don't have one. However, you can not apply for one until you have completed your 2 years so you will just have to get around that as best you can.
If you do get in, you should not risk leaving for the next 2 years.
If they report you on entry, you can appeal but in order to win your appeal, you'd need some good reasons for staying away for such a long time. Illness and bereavement may be accepted but not wanting to take kids out of school will not. There are schools in Canada too and many immigrants arrive with their children at various ages.
If you want an official reply on the status of your PR without picking up and going to Canada, you can apply for a PR travel document through the Canadian embassy in your home country. You would list your reasons for being unable to meet the residency requirements. If you get the travel document, your absence is forgiven and you can return to Canada as a PR. If you are refused, they will revoke your PR status officially. You can appeal if they reject but if your reasons were not good, then you will lose the appeal too.
If you lose your PR, you can apply again from scratch if you qualify.