Not so lucky, was my last-minute thought… Wouldn’t it be cute to draw a “Freddy” ballerina and make a sticker for a vase? Presenting our dancers with flowers on performance night is another lovely tradition and what better way to let them know how much I value their hard work then by commemorating the occasion with a special “Fierce Freddy”.  (I tell you, that little frog can do anything.)
            I didn’t think of the Fierce Freddy vase idea in time to get it made for Gracyn’s recital but I will get the vase done for Rai’s recital. Gracyn did get flowers on her recital day and they were lovely. However, you can be sure that Oma Sue will be delivering an additional bouquet to Gracyn to celebrate her “fierce” first year dancing achievement and this one will be in a special vase.  
            Rai attended extra rehearsals this past Memorial Day weekend as she was selected to perform in the opening number! So, this week will be filled with more rehearsals, dress rehearsals and two nights of performances. I will post another blog entry on Rai’s recital next week, complete with pictures. (I’m such an Oma)
            For now, I would like to share some pictures of sweet Gracyn Mae and a loving testimonial offered by her mother (my daughter Sara) on her Facebook page.  
 
            Goosebumps, tears, pure joy. Seeing our girl dance in her first dance recital was amazing beyond words. I grew up dancing with a studio for 13 years, taking for granted my physical ability to do so. Ms. Megan and her staff have been a blessing, teaching Gracyn and modifying her movements to perform to her best abilities and keeping her safe in the dance setting. It tickles my heart to be in the dance and recital world again, 20 some years later as a dance mommy. This was such a wonderfully choreographed recital, proud of Gracyn and all the talented girls that made this an amazing performance! Congratulations to my tiny dancer on her first (and super successful) year of dance and recital. I pray she can continue to dance her little heart out!  (Proud Mama Sara)
 
            
            ​Colby and the boys were such good sports to support their princess and little sister on her big day. The program in Wahoo was a tad long and I think they have had their fill of recitals – so it will just be Sara representing the Smith’s at Rai’s event this weekend. As Grandma Alyce always said “I love you to pieces!”           ​

            Rai often asks me “what if” questions - usually after doing something silly and repeatedly.  Today she was bent over with her hands on the floor, hopping on one foot as she tried to do a one-legged handstand with the other foot - sort of flailing that lone foot off into space and bringing it crashing down with a slap on the hard wood floor.  Hands on floor, one foot down, one foot up, hop… repeat, repeat, repeat…
              I yell downstairs as I turn on the bath water  “Come on Rai - it’s time to take a bath and get ready for bed”... hop, giggle, slap...hop giggle slap... hop, giggle, slap... and then a change in the rhythm... CLOMP, hop, giggle, slap... CLOMP, hop, giggle, slap... CLOMP, hop, giggle, slap... 
            The bath is running, the towel is laying on the vanity, the mat is on the floor... CLOMP, hop, giggle, slap...  I open the bathroom door - Rai is advancing up each step - slamming both hands on the next step, kicking one foot up and hopping on the other foot to the next step and finally bringing both feet down with a heavy CLOMP, a two footed hop, a giggle and a two handed slap on the next step... finally advancing through the hallway and into the bathroom.  
            I stand in her way, anticipating that she would next attempt a full-fledged hand stand in the tiny space between the vanity and bathtub... she hesitated,  slowly reading my mind, she looked up from her crouched position on the floor and scrunched her little brow and asked me simply “What if I did a handstand in the bathroom” I motioned her to the toilet and said “Go potty and get in the tub” She repeated “What if I did a handstand in the bathroom?” I told her not to do a handstand in the bathroom.  She asked again “What if I did do a handstand in the bathroom?”
             I sat on the edge of the tub, turned off the water, faced my granddaughter and set about to create an explanation that she so desperately craved… 
            If you did a handstand in the bathroom, you would fall over and hit your foot on the toilet.
            You would scream in pain and say “Oma, I broke my foot on the toilet”.
            I would come running into the bathroom and see you laying on the floor holding your poor foot and you would continue screaming “I broke my foot, I broke my foot, I broke my foot.”
            I would say “Oh Dear - Let me see.”  I would then take your foot in my hands and move it this way and that way and you would scream “My foot is broken!”
            I would say “It sure is red and now your foot is swelling up - looks like you broke your foot”.
            You would scream even louder and it would hurt my ears, the tears would flow down your cheeks and the snot would pour out of your nose. You would be a howling mess.

            I was invited to go to my grandson’s elementary school yesterday and read my book to the students. First my daughter, granddaughter and I had lunch with Mac, which was very good – and then I ended up reading the book four times to various combined classrooms.  
            I was a little concerned how the wide age range of students would react to the story, but honestly, they were all good listeners and so polite. The students and teachers made me feel welcome and I appreciated their hospitality. 
            I introduced myself to each group and explained how I first came to write this story. I explained my relationship with each of my grandchildren and how they influenced the frog characters in the story. Each presentation was different – after awhile you forget what you told one group and you wonder if you’ve said something twice…  I probably should have some notes to keep me on track. Oh well – maybe next time.
            In the first book, the three frogs make a raft out of Styrofoam and water bottles. I told the students that Rai and I made the exact same raft and tested it out in the bathtub to learn if it would work. They were delighted to learn that the raft had worked out in “real” life.
            In at least one of the groups, I told the story of my first experience with Styrofoam. This was back in the mid 1950’s and Styrofoam had just been invented. I explained that my Grandpa Joe owned a greenhouse and flower shop in Fremont. I told the group that some of the flowers were not grown in the greenhouse and were shipped to Fremont on the bus. The flowers would come cut for arranging - stored in long, wide, box-like Styrofoam containers with shallow lids and deeper bottoms.  
            Grandpa Joe got the idea that if we put several of these Styrofoam containers together, we could build a raft. Grandpa and my brother Billy made a raft out of the bigger bottom portions of the Styrofoam containers. Grandpa and I made a raft out of the smaller top portions.  
            When we took the rafts out to the cabin on Big Island, Billy’s raft did better at staying afloat while mine quickly sank to the bottom. I told the kids how the design of my raft had bothered me for decades. Sixty years after the fact, while making up a story for Rai, I finally figured out that I needed to turn the lid over and add air filled plastic bottles to keep it buoyant.   
            A full six decades after the initial engineering disaster, the problem had been solved. I explained how amazed I was that the answer to that old, old problem had come to me from a cute little frog with the biggest blue eyes you have ever seen. The kids look puzzled. One young man asked if tape had been invented back then. So ya – that happened.
            Anyway – I got a chance to talk about cooperation and competition. About friendship and kindness.  About perseverance and thinking things through. I got to share and get a much-needed teaching “fix” – thanks for making time for Oma Sue. Thank you, Mac for all your help with the first book and for being you!