Celebrating their sixth birthday in their kindergarten class at Langston Hughes School on Wednesday are, background from left, Keaton Hoy, Ryan Lutz and Stephen Pendry. All three were born Jan. 30, 2002, the day an ice storm struck Lawrence. At left is classmate Avery Carroll.

Three families, three births, one major ice storm.

Wednesday was the sixth anniversary of a severe ice storm that pounded the Midwest. Residents across northeast Kansas were forced to stay in their homes – many without power. But that wasn’t enough to stop three couples from welcoming additions to their families.

Stephen Pendry, Ryan Lutz and Keaton Hoy were all born Jan. 30, 2002, the day the severe storm began. Flash forward six years and, coincidentally, you’ll find the three boys in the same kindergarten class at Langston Hughes School.

“We got home, it was about five o’clock and the ice had just started, and my husband drove me to the hospital,” Heather Hoy said.

The weather wasn’t the only obstacle that day.

“I was organizing the big Langston Hughes symposium for his 100th birthday,” she said. “I was in my final planning meeting, and I realized I was going into labor.”

On Wednesday, the boys’ classmates celebrated the trio’s birthday with cupcakes and other treats. Although most of them were far too young to remember the infamous storm, they’ve heard the stories of their births numerous times.

Mary Pendry, a teacher for the district, was at home because school had been called off.

“We just drove through the ice storm” to get to the hospital, she said.

For the Lutz family, their path to a new child was less hectic. “We were actually at the hospital. We knew the storm was coming, but it felt nice to know that we didn’t have anywhere else to go but be in the hospital.”

With their arms draped around one another’s shoulders, the boys were treated to an extra-long version of “Happy Birthday.” In order to fit all three boys in, the teacher told the class to sing their names in alphabetical order.

In the eyes of the 6-year-olds, the more, the merrier.

When asked if they enjoyed sharing a birthday with one another, each boy gave a resounding, “Yes!”