IT is almost four years since pre-schoolers Parker, Hendrix, Lachlan and Evelyn were last photographed together, featured on the front page of The Bunyip for being born on one of the luckiest days of all.
The February 29 ‘leaplings’, along with Byron Heywood, now of Littlehampton, were all born at Gawler within seven hours of each other, marking a rare and special baby boom for the local hospital.
Their families are excited to be celebrating the children’s birthdays this Saturday – on their actual birthdate – for the first time, even if the kids are not so sure what all the fuss is about.
“We’re going to take her out for dinner; anywhere with a playground,” Evelyn’s mum Brittany Gray, of Freeling said.
“And we are getting a cake done with a little frog and pond on top, because leap day babies are called leaplings.”
Little Evelyn is the youngest after five sisters, and was the last baby, and only girl, of Gawler’s leap-year five.
Mrs Gray said her daughter, now in kindy, is always bright and bubbly and loves playing with baby dolls.
Alysha Stocks, of Evanston Gardens, is also planning a frog-themed party for her son, Hendrix, who she says is a great big brother to younger siblings Lachlan, 3 and Mazey, 1.
“He loves doing his little athletics on the weekend, loves watching sprint cars and loves helping his dad outside doing the gardening,” she said.
Lachlan Schuster, of Freeling, was the first of the babies to be born and will be celebrating his approaching birthday at Clonlea Park with family, including two-year-old twin sisters Mardy and Chelsea.
“He loves being outdoors and especially riding in Daddy’s tractor,” mum Jodie said.
“He can be shy and reserved until he settles in, but he is absolutely loving kindy, and I am too!”
Claire Robson said her son Parker Mattner, now of Greenwith and Gulfview Heights, is also loving the recent start to kindy.
“He is very cheeky, a bit of a dare devil, very affectionate and calm all in one,” she said.
“He loves riding his bike, swimming, being outdoors, and spending time with his big sister Bailey.”
Meanwhile, Byron Heywood, formally of Willaston, will be celebrating his birthday at his favourite park with friends and family, and with an outing to see a dinosaur show at the Adelaide Fringe.
He now has a 10-month-old brother, Alfred, who also wanted a
special birthday and was born on Easter Saturday.

Fun facts about leap years

• It takes the earth a little bit less than 365 ¼ days (365.242 days) to orbit the sun (solar year). For this reason, the full day is only added once every four years.
• The odds of being born on a leap day are 1 in 1461.
• Astrologers believe people born on February 29 have unusual talents, such as the ability to burp the alphabet or paint like Picasso.
• Queen Margaret of Scotland was apparently five years old when she came up with the notorious February 29 proposal trap in 1288.
• The first warrants for arrest went out on February 29, 1692 for the Salem witchcraft trials.