diff --git a/sugar/graphics/snowflakebox.py b/sugar/graphics/snowflakebox.py
index 86831f7b..c9b73de7 100644
--- a/sugar/graphics/snowflakebox.py
+++ b/sugar/graphics/snowflakebox.py
@@ -11,31 +11,39 @@ class SnowflakeBox(hippo.CanvasBox, hippo.CanvasItem):
 	__gtype_name__ = 'SugarSnowflakeBox'
 	def __init__(self, **kwargs):
 		hippo.CanvasBox.__init__(self, **kwargs)
-
 		self._root = None
-		self._r = 0
 
 	def set_root(self, icon):
 		self._root = icon
 
+	def _get_center(self):
+		[width, height] = self.get_allocation()
+		return [width / 2, height / 2]
+
+	def _get_radius(self):
+		return _BASE_RADIUS + _CHILDREN_FACTOR * len(self.get_children())
+
 	def _layout_root(self):
 		[width, height] = self._root.get_allocation()
+		[cx, cy] = self._get_center()
 
-		x = self._cx - (width / 2)
-		y = self._cy - (height / 2)
+		x = cx - (width / 2)
+		y = cy - (height / 2)
 
 		self.move(self._root, int(x), int(y))
 
 	def _layout_child(self, child, index):
-		r = self._r
+		r = self._get_radius()
 		if (len(self.get_children()) > 10):
 			r += _FLAKE_DISTANCE * (index % 3)
 
 		angle = 2 * math.pi / len(self.get_children()) * index
 
 		[width, height] = child.get_allocation()
-		x = self._cx + math.cos(angle) * r - (width / 2)
-		y = self._cy + math.sin(angle) * r - (height / 2)
+		[cx, cy] = self._get_center()
+
+		x = cx + math.cos(angle) * r - (width / 2)
+		y = cy + math.sin(angle) * r - (height / 2)
 
 		self.move(child, int(x), int(y))
 
@@ -49,7 +57,8 @@ class SnowflakeBox(hippo.CanvasBox, hippo.CanvasItem):
 			max_child_size = max (max_child_size, width)
 			max_child_size = max (max_child_size, height)
 
-		return self._r * 2 + max_child_size + _FLAKE_DISTANCE * 2
+		return self._get_radius() * 2 +	\
+			   max_child_size + _FLAKE_DISTANCE * 2
 
 	def do_get_height_request(self, width):
 		hippo.CanvasBox.do_get_height_request(self, width)
@@ -58,10 +67,6 @@ class SnowflakeBox(hippo.CanvasBox, hippo.CanvasItem):
 	def do_allocate(self, width, height):
 		hippo.CanvasBox.do_allocate(self, width, height)
 
-		self._cx = width / 2
-		self._cy = height / 2
-		self._r = _BASE_RADIUS + _CHILDREN_FACTOR * len(self.get_children())
-
 		self._layout_root()
 
 		index = 0