“Look, Mom, water!” The girls scuttle the cooking supplies they’d been carrying onto a nearby end table.

I bring up the rear, sporting my new “I Love Renton” tee, as my girl’s hustle-walk toward a decorative water fountain filled with coin-sized dreams and filled with the kind of luscious clear water a kid just has to stick a hand into.

“OK girls,” I said, as Amelia and Sophie flop onto their bellies and commence leaning into the fountain like deep-sea divers ready to explore.

The scene confirms yet again how impossible it is to play it cool when you’ve got inquisitive children whose favorite movie is “The Goonies” and whose beloved author is Roald Dahl.

Both my girls peer up at me wearing mischievous grins and wave dripping fingers.

As a former Goonie myself I understand. But I raise my eyebrows calmly that non-verbally connotes: you’re at the KING 5 studio scheduled to appear on the popular afternoon television show with award-winning Margaret Larson, “New Day Northwest.” So no funny business.

I set down my cardboard box filled with the same supplies I bring to my daughter Amelia’s second-grade class: oil, measuring cups, plastic utensils, baking powder and King Arthur Flour.

I love baking with my own kids, so it just seemed natural to volunteer at Amelia’s school in this way.

So one Friday a month Amelia’s classmates help me rearrange their desks into cooking stations.

Although it’s not a competition, watching kids work the recipe together is as fun and intense as an episode of “Top Chef.”

Each group of individuals has a separate process for stirring and taking turns as they navigate through the ingredients.

“Who has never cracked an egg before?” I asked a group of extremely focused individuals one day.

When 20-plus arms shot up like Blue Angels complete with wiggling fingers, zigzagging arms, undulating wet noodles and an over-the-top windshield wiper wave. But all wore the same expression, “Pick me!”

The air always feels electric, like something special is happening. And, of course, I’m delighted because something special is happening: Kids cooking together.

The experience has been so rewarding I contacted King Arthur Flour about bringing their Life Skills program to our Renton schools.

According to the King Arthur Flour website, here’s how it works:

Teaching to an audience of students in grades 4, 5, 6, and/or 7, a King Arthur Flour instructor and two student assistants present a 50-minute demonstration on the bread baking process. Then, each future baker takes home materials, including our nutritious whole-grain flour, and the know-how to get baking. Students bake two delicious loaves – one to enjoy, the other for donation to a community organization chosen by the school. King Arthur Flour brings this exciting program to schools FREE of charge.

A FREE program that teaches kids a life skill and the importance of sharing with others. That’s a no-brainer.

“Let’s do it!” I say.

Things were looking really good when Paula Gray, Life Skills Bread Baking program manager sent me a message that said King Arthur Flour has set aside the week of Feb. 6-10 to visit schools in the area, the first time ever in Washington.

I was “over the moon” excited about this opportunity for our kids.

Until I received word from the contact I’d been working with at the Renton School District.

She said, “I learned from the elementary and middle school staff that they are getting ready to prepare students for testing, so they are unable to fit this program into the early February timeframe.  Unfortunately, we are going to have to pass on your offer.”

I’ll be honest with you I never imagined ever having this much trouble selling something free — especially with all the budget cuts.

I understand the importance of testing our kids.

But are our kids really too busy to learn about making bread with their families and giving back to our community?

I don’t think so.

And as Alexander Graham Bell said so aptly, “When one door closes, another opens.”

And voila we’re at New Day Northwest to talk about bringing the King Arthur Flour Life Skills program to our state.

I pick up my box as the girls and I make our way to set up our bread-making table for our segment. But not before I dig into my jeans pocket, fish out a coin and toss it into that fountain.

I hope that the Renton Schools will be the first to experience this amazing program.  Check out Life Skills at King Arthur Flour at http://www.kingarthurflour.com/baking/life-skills-baking.html.

I love suggestions! If you know of people or places in Renton that surprise, delight and inspire the community, drop me a line at carolyn@pippimamma.com. Also follow Carolyn on her blog, www.pippimamma.com.