Jen and Sam both shared a love for ski racing from a young age. Jen skied in the hills of Massachusetts while Sam conquered the mountains of Vermont. Jen captained the Williston Northampton School’s Varsity team while Sam captained the St. Johnsbury Academy Ski team. In short, they ripped. Jen and Sam both made the decision to attend the University of Vermont. Jen pursued Neuroscience, and Sam pursed Anthropology and Math. During this time, both Jen and Sam participated in the UVM Club Alpine Ski Team. They did not know it at the time, but they were destined to fall in love. The ski team surprisingly was not where Jen and Sam started dating. It was actually in an English class. Sam made sure to sit next to Jen on the first day as he noticed she was wearing a UVM Alpine Ski Jacket. They hit it off, and from here on, Sam knew Jen was the one. Consistently, Sam would "forget" his reading materials and would be forced to share with Jen (who always was prepared). Sam finally built up the courage to ask Jen out to the ski team formals, and she accepted.

During a ski team event at Sunday River, the UVM Club Alpine Ski Team stayed in a house close to the mountain. With a grueling slalom ahead of them, Jen decided to retire early. Sam, meanwhile, went to the Bode Miller school of alpine racing, and opted to stay up a little later than Jen. Sam and company decided the dead of night was the appropriate time to sing karaoke to Disney's Frozen. Sam was in the middle of performing both Elsa and Hans' parts of "Love is an open door" when Jen bursts through the door and demanded Sam "get to bed or so help me". Understandably, Sam was scared to the core, and decided, maybe now was a good time for some well needed sleep.

Jen and Sam have both shared a love for cats in their lives. From Monomou to Greycie, Jen has always had a kitty companion. Due to Sam's early attempts at suffocation via asthma, he could not have cats until later in life. Denzel was Sam's cat through high school and into college, where he became the official mascot of his freshman dorm, Converse Hall. When Denzel left for winter break, a procession of thirty college students bid him farewell. Denzel lovingly became Sam and Jen's cat after they moved in together. From leashed walks to lounging in the house, Sam, Jen, and Denzel became inseparable. Denzel marked his time on earth by being their companion through thick and thin. Some of Denzel's best times were when Sophie, Jen's sister, lived with them for the summer. He graciously gifted her his spot on the couch in exchange for snuggles. Sophie and Denzel became great friends, despite only knowing each other for a short time. Shortly after Denzel's passing, Jen and Sam adopted Middie, another black FIV positive kitty who weighed a bit too much. He had been at the shelter for far too long. He was described as a "mushy man". He had his adoption fee waived, a gift card to Petsmart in his back pocket, and 6 months of free food ready to be devoured. He is known for his "nemo-like" ear, and chirpy purr. He is fitting in just fine, and he lives with Sam and Jen to this day.

Sam and Jen have always loved to share their experience of skiing with others. From spending time watching their niece and nephew begin to walk in the ski lodge, similar to when they were young, to watching kids a third of their age drop cliffs their aging bodies could only dream of, they live for the winter. One story in particular stands out. It was a great day of skiing at Mount Snow. Jen's cousin Ted, her sister Sophie, their friend Lindsey, and Jen's father Bill were in attendance. Now, everyone barring Bill had cut their teeth ski racing in high school and college. Bill is no slouch, and has learned how to ski with the best of them despite starting his skiing career later on in life. The snow that day was amazing. Slightly soft, quite fast, and decently groomed. An East Coast powder day. After bombing Mine Shaft, and clocking in at 59 MPH, the gang decided to carve down the trail in procession. Jen and Sophie were in the lead, and at the back was Sam and Bill. To reiterate, Bill is no slouch, but Sam was doing his best Ted Ligety impression. Bill, in tow, was following directly in Sam's path. Sam, wanting to use the whole trail, aimed himself at the tree line, doing well above 30 MPH, and carved around the bend as close as he could to the edge. Bill, not realizing the sudden change in direction, went straight off into the woods. Everyone met up at the bottom, expecting Bill to arrive immediately behind Sam. But they had to wait, and wait, and wait, until he finally arrived. It was apparent something was wrong. Bill's ski pants and boots were soaked. Bill decided, after leaving the trail, to crash directly into a mountain stream. With sloshy boots, Bill trudged back onto the lift, reborn as the water seeking missile.