 | | Twelve-year old Sophie Roberts of Pecan Grove is this many today - in leap years. (Staff photo by Russell Autrey)
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| Coming only once every four years, leap year can cause some strange celebrations.
For instance, pre-teen Sophie Roberts of Pecan Grove turns 3 today.
However, she will have to wait another 1,461 days before commemorating her next birthday - technically.
You see Sophie is one of more than 200,000 Americans celebrating a leap day birthday today. By Las Vegas standards, that's a one in 1,500 chance.
So, what are the odds of being born at 2:29 a.m. on the 2-29 (Feb. 29)? Very slim.
But it gets better. Sophie, the oldest daughter of Kristie and Troy Roberts, came into this world two years and nine months - to the day - of her parents' wedding.
“Our anniversary is May 29, 1993,” said Kristie. “She was born Feb. 29, 1996.”
According to her mother, Sophie was due on March 6.
This year, Sophie and a few of her close friends will celebrate at an indoor family fun center in Houston, complete with a roller coaster, video games and lots of pizza.
Her classmate's reactions to Sophie's special birthday are somewhat mixed.
“Some of them think it's cool,” she said, adding, “others joke about it.”
When asked what she wants for her birthday this year, Sophie doesn't hesitate. “An iPod Nano, in pink.”
Unlike most, Sophie will have to wait 48 more months before she officially turns “four.” Her mother added, “She is already talking about her 16th birthday.”
Leap of faith
Married 16 wonderful years, Connie and Lloyd Knapp of Richmond are celebrating their fourth wedding anniversary today, South Pacific style.
No, this has nothing to do with an island paradise being 17 degrees latitude and 149 degrees longitude, but everything to do with leap year.
Set up by mutual friends in the early '90s, the couple hit it off instantly. And after a year and a half of courtship, they decided to tie the knot.
According to both parties, the two didn't set out to get married on leap day, it just happened to fall on a Saturday that year.
In a mutual agreement, Lloyd gave Connie the option of picking the month, and he would pick the day. She picked the month of February.
Working at the time, Lloyd admitted he could have taken time off work to wed on, perhaps Valentine's Day, but he noted “it didn't fall on a Saturday.”
He did find, however, that there was an extra day added to the calendar month that year and it just happened to fall on the weekend.
“It just worked out,” said Lloyd with a mischievous smile.
Together, the two find humor in their special day.
“I guess it's a novelty,” said Connie.
Lloyd said having a leap day anniversary is special to them because it doesn't come along every year.
“We can't forget it,” he said. “There's no ‘I'm sorry, I forgot.' That doesn't work.”
Every fourth year, the couple celebrates their anniversary in style, such as trips to the Far East and Europe.
Other than that, “we normally keep everything very simple,” said Lloyd. “We give each other so much during the year. I think it's only special if during the year you show your love every day. It isn't just on leap year, it's how you treat your other half the rest of the time; be it every year, every four years.”
After that sentiment, Connie turned and said with a smile, ”I do recommend blind dates, because you never know.”
Between the two, the couple has six sons, 17 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
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