Our Story
Has anything really changed?
February 13, 1986
Kevin is Born
The first son of Jeff and Shirley Cox is born the day before their anniversary and Valentine’s day on February 13, 1986.
April 16, 1992
Sadie is Born
Born on April 16, 1992, Sadie was a spirited and unique child, defined by a deep love for frogs, a fierce competitive streak, and a rather large appetite.
Her first frog, Kermit, gifted by an uncle, sparked a lifelong passion. Soon, an army of amphibians populated her rooms growing up which made quite a dorm attraction during her prep school years, girls stopping by to see her frog themed room.
Her competitive spirit, which was ignited on the hockey rink, rivaled her frog obsession. She learned to skate in a day, at three. “We put her on the ice, and she just took off,” her parents recalled. She quickly became a fast skater, and scored so much in mini-mites she got banned from shooting. A giant game of keep-away (from both teams) ensued as the coaches forgot to tell her she needed to pass. From there, she skated all the way to Berkshire, Syracuse, and the professional Boston Blades.
Food was another passion, though sometimes a painful one. Ziti, a favorite, often led to tears as she repeatedly bit her fingers after putting the noodles on them. One night, a near-ER trip for stomach pains was miraculously cured when her parents had her eat a banana. Sadie saying “All better. Goodnight.”
Clothing was a battleground – tags, seams, anything scratchy was the enemy. Sadie requested a haircut, due to her dislike of hair on her neck, resulting in super cool mushroom cut for years. Glasses completed the look. Leaving the eye doctor’s for the first time, her mom felt bad as Sadie exclaimed “Mom, look at the leaves on trees,” – previously just one green blur. School became easier, being able to see the board made her able to leave behind her specialized learning classes. And when her parents asked how she had managed to play hockey she simply said “I just followed the crowd.”
may 7, 2016
The Fellowship of the Rink
At the time, Sadie was playing for the Boston Blades (a professional women’s ice hockey team in the CWHL) and the Blades decided to host a fun ball hockey tournament at Breakaway Hockey Dek Sports in Dracut, MA. Teams that entered into the tournament each drafted a member of the Blades team onto their own rosters - Kevin’s team lucked out and snagged Sadie. The outcome of the tournament is a bit fuzzy to them, but their nerdy chat about their shared love of Lord of the Rings is what they remember. By post-tournament drinks at The Sports Zone, Sadie was telling her sister she thought Kevin was cute.
June 12, 2016
Tiki bars, Split Lips & Texas Roadhouse
Weeks later, a Leominster tournament reunited Sadie and Kevin. Sadie had a bit of jealously when she spotted Kevin chatting with their friend Ashley in the stands. Little did she know, Kevin was just gathering intel on Sadie.
After day one’s games, Kevin’s team hit the Sunset Tiki Bar. Stepping out of her comfort zone, Sadie convinced a few of her teammates to join when Kevin invited her. He smiled when she arrived in stuck by her all night. They played drinking games at nearby friends late into the night.
Kevin’s hungover 7am game brought him a loss, goal on his own net, split lip and ER visit. But he returned, stitches and all, to catch Sadie's final playoff game. And she was thrilled. Awkward goodbyes after the game followed, but Sadie “bravely” facebook messaged him from her car “Texas Roadhouse?” and he said yes instantly.
June 15, 2016
The Giant Fishbowl Margarita
A few days later, mid-commuter rail home, Sadie saw a text from Kevin (yes, numbers exchanged at last!). He was at Casa Blanca for margs and Mexican food after golf league. Sadie declined for a few stops, but Kevin’s persistence, and her FOMO, got her off the train and into an Uber.
A giant fishbowl margarita and a rowdy bunch of Kevin's friends greeted her. They had a blast laughing with the crew and demolishing the marg. Kevin drove Sadie all the way back to the train station in Ayer and as Kevin walked her back to her car, they shared their first kiss.
Post-golf meetups with Kevin and his friends would become their Wednesday summer routine.
July 4, 2016
The Mysterious Lake Winnipesaukee
Determined to impress Sadie, Kevin invited her to his family’s lake house on a lake she had never heard of…Lake Winnipesauke. Grabbing a friend, she packed the essentials (giant inflatable donuts) and headed up for the first time to Moultonborough, NH. A jetski newbie, Sadie opted to let Kevin drive for their first ride. For anyone acquainted with Kevin’s infamous yellow jetskis, not only did they mysteriously breakdown randomly…they we’re also extremely tippy…so no one will be surprised that they both promptly landed in the water when they both attempted to climb on. The weekend was a blast.
July 24, 2016
The “Chin” Incident
Fueled by the Fourth of July weekend’s success, Sadie and Kevin couldn’t wait for the next Lake Weekend. The yellow jetski’s struck again, when Kevin caught a wave the wrong way resulting in him splitting his chin open. With the nearest hospital being at least 45 minutes away…the only “logical” solution involved a lawn chair, a sewing needle and a hefty dose of Jack Daniels. A friend stitched him up, as friends cheered him on and Sadie, horrified, held his hand. Kevin felt no pain for the rest of the evening and at the end of the weekend he asked Sadie to officially be his girlfriend.
September 5, 2016
Crosswalk Calamari
As the summer came to a close, Sadie and Kevin headed up to York Beach Maine. The Corcoran family traditionally capped off their summers here, inviting friends to drop in whenever for their two-week stay. One night, the ladies of the group were tasked with fetching takeout (and a few drinks for themselves) to bring back to the house across the street. Mid-crosswalk, disaster struck as the prized bag of fried shrimp, calamari and French fries hit the deck. Horrified by potentially losing the previous food, Sadie launched into a heroic rescue mission - scrambling to pick up stray pieces with many of them disappearing straight into her mouth. This might have sealed the deal for Sadie in Kevin’s friend group.
Later that night, after more drinks and laughs about the crosswalk incident, Kevin found Sadie alone in the kitchen. He told her that he loved her for the first time, and she felt the same. The next morning, Kevin laughing with the group told them “I don’t remember anything from last night.” Sadie was horrified but Kevin quickly looked over and re-assured her that he definitely remembered that.
February 26, 2017
Vieques, Puerto Rico
Sadie and Kevin embarked on their first major adventure together, jetting off to the tropical paradise of Vieques, Puerto Rico, with their good friends Joe and Kate Marcotte. Their days were filled with lounging on pristine white sand beaches, snorkeling in the crystal-clear turquoise waters, and indulging in delicious food and good drinks. Sadie had never experienced such a tropical escape. This shared trip spurred their shared love of travel, especially for warm and sunny destinations.
April 30, 2017
A Game-Changing Injury
Sadie & Kevin were on the brink of victory in a ball hockey tournament when disaster struck. A sharp, intense pain shot through Sadie’s knee and she went down in a heap with what turned out to be a crushing ACL tear. Devastated, but still competitive, Sadie insisted Kevin and their teammates finish the game. She watched tearfully from the stands through the final minutes as her teammates got the win.
The road to recovery would be long, but Kevin would be by her side every step of the way. Kevin became her dedicated caretaker, diligently tracking her symptoms, medications, and recovery schedule. Seeing his unwavering support, Sadie's parents sensed a permanent move was imminent and they (to Kevin’s surprise) dropped off a stash of Sadie’s college crates while she was bedridden. Kevin’s house was soon to be their shared home.
September 5, 2017
A Job Closer to Home
With the daily grind of a two-hour commute to Boston taking its toll, Sadie with Kevin’s encouragement, decided to make a change. Having settled into Kevin's home, she decided to quit her design job in Boston and seek a new opportunity closer to home. This lesser commute gave the couple more time together.
september 17, 2017
Frank the Tank
Late in the summer, while visiting a friend's house, Kevin stumbled upon a baby snapping turtle. They decided to adopt the turtle, naming him Frank the Tank.
February 24, 2018
North Captiva, Florida
Sadie and Kevin escaped with friends to the sunny North Captiva, a tiny, car-free island in the Gulf of Mexico. Their spring break getaway included a fun boat adventure that included island hopping, and plenty of fishing. While fishing, Kevin landed a large catfish that, unfortunately, swung its way toward their friend Niki - jabbing her in the leg! They all helped her drink away her pain that night.
Their boating explorations also led to an unexpected encounter with a friendly manatee, who played with their boat anchor rope, delighting everyone on board. And of course, no Gulf of Mexico trip would be complete without a visit to Cabbage Key, the legendary island where Jimmy Buffett penned his iconic song "Cheeseburger in Paradise."
February 23, 2019
A Return to Vieques
Sadie, Kevin, and the Marcotte family revisited the tropical paradise of Vieques, Puerto Rico – this time opting for a more adventurous journey via puddle jumper plane. Their island adventure included an exhilarating catamaran snorkeling trip and a unique experience for Sadie: her first attempt at skeet shooting. Overcoming initial nerves (and some tears), she gradually found her rhythm and enjoyed the experience, though the young Marcotte children might have given her a run for her money!
July 17, 2019
Back in the Game
Sadie embarked on a solo European adventure, traveling to Slovakia to compete in the world ball hockey championship. This tournament marked her triumphant return to sports after her ACL injury. As Sadie battled it out on the rink, Kevin diligently followed the action from home. Sadie had a blast with her teammates, securing a silver medal and exploring the vibrant cities of Košice, Slovakia, and Budapest, Hungary.
July 17, 2019
Cornhole Boards
Together, Kevin and Sadie crafted their epic hockey stick cornhole boards. Sadie felt perfectly comfortable contributing her precious broken college hockey sticks. She still kinda sucks at cornhole though…
July 27, 2019
Unleashing Frank the Tank
Frank the Tank, once a tiny hatchling, had grown into a huge formidable, hunter of a snapping turtle. They brought Frank to a local pond, and as they released him he went straight after the first fish he saw; they couldn’t help but to envision havoc he might wreak on the unsuspecting fish population.
November 23, 2019
A Nicaraguan Thanksgiving
Sadie and Kevin joined the Marcotte clan for a warm Thanksgiving escape to Nicaragua. Their beachfront home in a small fishing village offered warm days, stunning sunsets, and and a never-ending supply of fresh seafood. They loved watching the daily fishing boats and Kevin loved practicing Spanish with the locals.
The group explored the area by four-wheeler, discovering hidden gems like Las Cortinas De Pochomil, a waterfall formed by crashing waves. For Thanksgiving, they feasted on lobster and shrimp instead of turkey.
In colonial Granada, they enjoyed horse-drawn carriage rides and the restaurants with beautiful hidden courtyards. A boat tour of Lake Nicaragua's 400+ islands was a highlight, especially for Sadie, who fed monkeys by hand. This Nicaragua trip was just the beginning of many.
February 22, 2020
Nicaragua, Take Two
They couldn't wait to return to Nicaragua, so they headed back for February vacation. More beach days, four-wheeling adventures, and delicious food were on the menu. Joe mentioned the world was starting to really worry about "this COVID thing," but the group brushed it off.
To cap off their vacation, they explored the Mombacho Volcano Natural Reserve. This cloud forest within a crater was a lush, green wonderland. They hiked the “El Cráter” trail, marveling at the steam vents from the dormant volcano. Sadie was a little disappointed she didn’t spot any frogs, but they were thrilled to get a glimpse of a lazy sloth hanging out in a tree.
Their adventure continued with an exhilarating zipline canopy tour. Kevin and Sadie, first-time zipliners, soared from platform to platform with the group surrounded by the sounds of howler monkeys.
March 13, 2020
The Weekend Before the World Shut Down
Shortly after returning from Nicaragua, amid more and more news about this “Covid-19 thing,” Kevin and Sadie decided to still make the trip to Portland, Maine for their annual St. Patrick's Day brewery crawl. Their friend Lore, a nurse, was extra cautious about COVID-19; armed with a backpack full of cleaning supplies she aggressively wiped down the group’s tables at each place before they sat down.
Little did they know the whole world would shut down the very next day. Upon returning to work Monday, both Kevin and Sadie were sent home early as their offices implemented a two-week shutdown to "flatten the curve..."
March 28, 2020
Backyard Quarantine
With the world completely shut down and apparently no sign of it going back to normal anytime soon, Sadie and Kevin began a crazy marathon of yard projects to entertain themselves. Clearing out a neglected, over-grown, pricker and vine filled section of yard building a deck platform in the new location, figuring out how to move their whole shed into its new place using PVC piping as rollers to roll it into its new home. They then built new huge garden beds around it that would become Sadie’s hosta gardens. They cut down several dead trees and cleaned them up.
Summer, 2020
A Covid Summer at the Lake
Summer arrived, and the party (and the projects) moved to the lake! Their biggest project was a complete re-roof. The guys tackled the shingle stripping up top while Kate and Sadie formed the ground crew, scrambling to collect the debris (shingles, nails, you name it) and wheelbarrow it all to the dumpster – all while keeping the rooftop crew well-hydrated by tossing up beers, of course.
One legendary day was dedicated to battle tubes, with each pair vying to knock the others off their inflatable steeds. Kevin's love for Sadie clearly intensified (just look at his face in the picture!) when, mid-chug on his tube, he tossed the remaining half of his beer to Sadie. She caught it (upright!) and downed it like a champ.
And thanks to the delayed NHL season, this was the one and only summer the crew could enjoy the Bruins games outdoors at the lake.
September 5, 2020
St. Germain Design Co.
One day, Sadie reached a point at her agency where she knew she needed a change. Despite the anxiety of leaving without a new job lined up, Kevin's unwavering encouragement gave her the confidence to make the leap. He reassured her, "Fuck it. We'll figure it out," which was exactly what she needed to hear. Determined to stay within the world of small agencies, she connected with numerous firms in the area. The flexibility of remote work, amplified by the pandemic, opened doors to freelance projects with agencies she admired. These freelance gigs proved to be more than just temporary work; they ultimately led to the creation of her own studio, St. Germain Design Co. She quickly found her stride, with her first year's earnings exceeding her previous agency salary and more flexibility than ever. Four years later, she hasn't looked back.
april 24, 2021
Florida Spring Break
With international travel still limited, the usual crew—Sadie, Kevin, and the Marcottes—opted for a spring vacation in Captiva, Florida. This trip was all about unwinding. Poolside lounging, delicious food, and refreshing drinks filled their days. They enjoyed a day of fishing with one of Joe Marcotte's former bosses, cruising the waters of Fort Myers. Another day, while the guys hit the golf course, Sadie and Kate spent a day at Fort Myers Beach, highlighted by a parasailing adventure. A first for Sadie, she thoroughly enjoyed sharing the exhilarating experience with Ella Marcotte.
april 24, 2021
DEFAULT
With international travel still limited, the usual crew—Sadie, Kevin, and the Marcottes—opted for a spring vacation in Florida. This trip was all about unwinding. Poolside lounging, delicious food, and refreshing drinks filled their days. They enjoyed a day of fishing with one of Joe's former bosses, cruising the waters of Fort Myers. Another day, while the guys hit the golf course, Sadie and Kate spent a day at Fort Myers Beach, highlighted by a parasailing adventure. A first for Sadie, she thoroughly enjoyed sharing the exhilarating experience with Ella Marcotte.
