Science conundrum for homeschoolers

I'd say that the one kind of curriculum we homeschoolers constantly change is probably math. We are always trying to find the "best" thing that will "work" for the most kids. And it's really hard. But I think I have that covered this year.

What I am having trouble with is science.

I usually use Mother of Divine Grace School's recommendations. There is a curriculum called Concepts and Challenges and it is listed under Emmanuel Books. I looked at it, but I wasn't that excited about it. I was able to actually page through at a friend's house, so that I didn't buy something sight unseen and spend a lot of money on it. It looked slightly more interesting than the stuff I read in school as a kid. Not awful, just not exciting.

At least not as exciting as this, from Apologia Press.

and this , which is their "notebooking" book to go with their Botany book.

The same company does "Exploring Creation with Biology" and others by Dr. Jay Wile. They are very, very scientifically sound, they simply add one thing: God. They give God credit as creator of a beautiful world and all that nature has in store for us. I happen to like that feature. I have also graded MODG work in the biology course, and thought, gee, this looks like a real biology course. And then I asked my husband, whose degree, it happens, is in biology, and he said the same thing. So it wasn't my fevered homeschooler imagination. Ha!

Another friend and I were thinking we'd do science together this year, mostly to keep each other honest (and to make me do science experiments which somehow always get put off forever). If we both choose the same one, then ta da! problem solved. I just want to be sure that this will work out long term. I think so. Also, if we pick astronomy, we have friend's grandpa who'd be all over the telescope at 2 am thing.

Thoughts anyone?