My Kers are both going to use CLPs Hearts and Hands workbook. A friend gave me a copy and they both want to work out of it so I ordered another one. I am kicking myself in the butt because I could have gotten the display copy for 40% off at the convention. Oh well. They are excited. They had their 'box' day over summer when I ordered Little Hearts. I got it out the other day so they and another 'box' day, well more like 'bin' day. This order was mostly for DD9. After giving the textbook appoach a try and doing one topic at a time a try and talking to DH about it all we have decided to go with books instead of textbooks. DD9 and I looked over Preparing and Ancients to see which one she would like to do. She liked more of the books in Preparing so that is the one we will do. Using this guide give me more of the CM style and gives more than one topic which DH likes. I guess a best of both worlds for us.
I currently have the books in my room to look over. DD9 is trying to take the drawing one so she can do stuff already. She is also ready to take some of the books to read but I am making her wait until after our trip. We are going to visit grandparents, go to a wedding and maybe meet their cousin (if she is born while we are visiting). It going to be a fun and busy June for us. July will be a full month of camping (hoping) and school starts the first week of August.
Oh the critters we are getting are ladybug larve, catipillars (done this already), tadpoles and praying mantis egg case. Since we are traveling our critters will just have to tag alon with us in their habitats.
Enjoy!
My son just got done experiementing with a "diver" in a bottle in Preparing Heart's to see how subs dive and rise to the surface. He ended up making a bottle with a diver for each of his brothers too! They're all ecstatic to have their own. 
*Another* lesson in patience. 
You have one of my very favorite verses from John in your tag. I love that verse - and I think of it often when I need to see Jesus as my powerful Savior in times of trouble, and also to remind myself I should not be surprised when trouble does come knocking on my door.