DOB - 30 May 2003

I am a third born van de Ven woman (meaning, not married into van de Ven family, but pure blooded born van de Ven). I am also the only born Kiwi van de Ven. 'Kiwi' means 'born in New Zealand'. A true Snow White my Mama said - red lips and skin fair - I was first weighed at 3.710kg.

Indeed I was born a New Zealand Snow White - or maybe a little Kiwi in the North Shore Hospital, Takapuna. That Friday night 20:27 o'clock I saw my parents for the first time. Funny, they cried and cried and cried.

Only minutes later I met my Baka (grandmother) Iva and within the next hour or so I was introduced to my Deda (grandfather) Srecko and Uncle Zoran. They stared !? I stared back. Everyone was laughing, eating sandwiches and talking only about me - my hands arms, legs, every detail on my face, hair … I drifted off to sleep.

Following day I met heaps of my parents' acquittances, friends and more family. On the third day Mama and Tata showed me our cute little house - where we lived for the first two years of my life; Torbay, close to Longbay Beach.

When I was 5 weeks old, we flew over to South Africa to meet Tata's family. It was fun. I have five uncles and aunty Marie - and my Ouma (grandmother) Hester and Oupa (grandfather) Len are absolutely WOW! grandparents. Mama, Tata and I spend whole 4 weeks driving South African roads.

Thereafter we returned to New Zealand, our home, and my duty (for now) was to grow and remain smiling for my parents.

My life became one big adventure. I had so much to explore and see. With Mama, Tata, Baka, Dida and Zoran at my side I grew into a happy girl who was gifted a cute brother only months after I turned 2.

12th July 2003 and our our cute little house seem far away now, but I am happy and surrounded by those who love me and I love back.
About Lara