Growing Up Celebrating Birthdays Every Four Years: Meet the Remarkable ‘Leaplings’ Family
Raising ‘Leaplings’ – A Unique Family Tradition
A FAMILY in Utah had a special plan for their children, that three out of their five kids would all be ‘leaplings’-people born on a leap year.
The First Leapling: Xavier Estes
It began with their firstborn son Xavier Estes, whose birthday in 2004 unintentionally fell on a leap year.
The Introduction of a Fun Family Tradition: Remington’s Birth
However, when it came to their third born, Remington, David, the children’s father, had the idea that due to timing he could be a leapling as well, starting a fun family tradition.
A Guinness World Record and Younger Birthdays
The Estes family share the Guinness world record for most siblings delivered on consecutive leap day years with a family in Norway, whose leapling siblings were born in 1960, 1964, and 1968.
Celebrating Unique Milestone Birthdays
Xavier, Remington, and Jade Estes turned 20, 16, and 12 this year, but due to the quirks of leap years their ages are technically much younger.
Big Celebrations and Family Bonding
The leaplings still celebrate their birthdays every year on February 28 when it is not a leap year. However, when it is, the family makes sure to do a big celebration for all three kids.
Special Celebrations for the Leaplings
This year the Estes commemorated the special day with an early celebration on Presidents Day inside a church hall in Payson, Utah.
Delightful Birthday Celebrations
“The children had separate piñatas for them and their friends,” Louise said. Xavier picked a llama, Remington chose a Minecraft-themed one, and Jade chose a red chile pepper.
Sibling Love and Support
The other two Estes children are happy for their siblings, and enjoy being part of the celebrations.
Ensuring Every Child Feels Special
Louise tries to make sure all her children know they are special. All five kids get to celebrate milestone birthdays every four years, even if they are not leaplings, so no one feels left out.