COEUR d’ALENE — Three local youngsters will celebrate very special birthdays today.

On Oct. 10, 2010 — 10/10/10 — Jessica Millard, Jadyn Kitchen and Josh Meyer all turn 10 years old. Reaching double digits for the first time in their lives, the troika will commemorate an important milestone: One full decade on planet Earth.

“I’m gonna have a family party on Sunday, and maybe have a couple of friends over on another day,” said Jessica Millard, who’s decided to keep her birthday fairly low-key.

The daughter of Rathdrum residents Sam and Kathy Millard, Jessica is a fifth-grader at Garwood Elementary. She participates in shooting sports and gardening activities with the local 4-H club.

Funny story about Jessica: According to an e-mail from Kathy, Jessica was born one week early, while Sam was still out in the woods hunting elk. Sam found out Kathy was in labor and raced to the hospital, still wearing his camouflage when he arrived at the delivery room.

“Needless to say, he doesn’t get to elk hunt on opening day much anymore!” Kathy wrote.

Josh Meyer started his celebration one day early.

On Saturday, Josh and nine of his buddies scaled the climbing wall at the Ray and Joan Kroc Community Center. He planned to stay up until midnight, so don’t be surprised if he looks a little sleepy today.

Josh, from Coeur d’Alene, is in fourth grade at Sorensen Magnet School. He likes to help others; he once collected 50 pounds of pop can tabs for a Ronald McDonald House fundraiser.

“He’s a really special kid,” said Carolyn Meyer, Josh’s mom. “He’s a quiet boy; he kind of flies below the radar.”

Jadyn Kitchen’s mom, Heidi Dexter, already threw her daughter a party on Thursday and Friday. But Jadyn isn’t done celebrating just yet; her dad, Joe Kitchen, has something special planned for today.

“We’re going to go four-wheeling,” Jadyn said.

A fourth-grader at Atlas Elementary, Jadyn, from Hayden, loves gymnastics and horses. She’ll be listening to some fresh tunes on her new touch iPod, an early birthday present from Dad.

Roberta Kinley, a friend of the family, relayed a fun exchange in a letter to The Press: “When asked if she was expecting cards with 10-dollar bills in them for her birthday on 10/10/10, (Jadyn) replied, ‘I think 10-dollar bills would be OK too.’”