For Jennifer and David Gerry, life on Mercer Island is full of the things that make a family feel at home: busy weekends, kids’ activities, time outdoors, dinner together and the familiar faces that seem to turn up everywhere.

The Gerrys, both Seattle natives, lived in Queen Anne for several years before moving to Mercer Island about three years ago. Today, they are raising their three daughters, Addie, 12, Margeaux, 10, and Cora, 6, and have quickly become part of the Island community.

Their daughters each have their own interests and personalities. Addie has found a passion for softball, which began to take off after her first season with Mercer Island Little League. She now plays competitive fastpitch with Flame Fastpitch as a pitcher and second baseman. Jennifer recently joined the Flame Fastpitch board, drawn to the organization’s emphasis on not only athletic development but also grit, leadership and a growth mindset.

Margeaux has fallen in love with horseback riding. After discovering horses during a family trip to Ireland, she began riding in the hunter/jumper program at Parkside Stables. She enjoys the riding, but just as much, she loves caring for the horses, often arriving early to say hello and staying afterward to groom and settle her horse.

At six, Cora keeps busy with softball and gymnastics and is trying something new this year with dance at Creation Dance Studio. All three girls have been part of the West Mercer community, with Margeaux and Cora currently attending and Addie now at Islander Middle School. Cora also spent two years at Sunnybeam, which was an important early connection for the family.

One of the things that surprised Jennifer and David most about Mercer Island was how quickly it felt like home.

“We loved living in Queen Anne, but when we moved to Mercer Island we very quickly felt like we had found the place where we wanted to put down permanent roots,” Jennifer says.

For the Gerrys, that sense of community is one of the best parts of raising children on the Island. Their daughters have made friendships through school, sports and the neighborhood, while the family has found plenty of opportunities to get involved and connect with others.

They also appreciate the independence the Island offers their children and the easy access to the outdoors. Some of their favorite family activities are remarkably simple: walking to Slater Park to paddleboard, riding bikes through Pioneer Park or running into friends while shopping at Island Books or visiting the Farmer’s Market.

The family enjoys getting off the Island, too. Mountain biking at Duthie Hill, hiking, skiing, snowboarding and golf all make their list of favorite activities. 

This summer, they took a ten-day, screen-free trip to Yellowstone, including a memorable early-morning wildlife tour in Lamar Valley. Watching a wolf pack try to separate a baby bison from its herd was an experience the whole family will remember.

Family life for the Gerrys often revolves around their daughters’ activities. A typical weekend might include a softball tournament for Addie, horseback riding for Margeaux and Cora tagging along for much of it. When they have a free weekend, they enjoy heading to their home in Suncadia for time by the lake.

One tradition they try to protect is Family Movie Night, with each family member taking a turn choosing the movie. And despite their busy schedules, they make a point of having dinner together as a family almost every night.

Those everyday moments are important to Jennifer and David. Their family and professional lives have grown alongside each other. The couple founded Gerry Homes in 2014, when Addie was just three months old. David brings nearly three decades of experience in residential construction, while Jennifer oversees the business side and contributes to design and plan review. The company builds custom homes and significant renovations, including projects on Mercer Island.

Being involved in the homebuilding business has also given them an appreciation for what makes a house truly feel like home. For Jennifer, it often comes down to the ordinary moments that happen there: kids coming through the door, family gathering in the kitchen, clutter accumulating and everyone settling in at the end of a busy day.

Much of the Gerrys’ community involvement naturally centers around their daughters. West Mercer has been an important part of their family’s experience, and Jennifer volunteered at the school’s fifth-grade sleepaway camp when Addie was in fifth grade. She hopes to have the opportunity to do it again with Margeaux and eventually Cora.

Mercer Island Little League has also played a significant role. All three girls have participated, and the program has helped the family build friendships and connections throughout the community. Sunnybeam was another early connection, introducing the family to Island families and community traditions.

For Jennifer and David, though, some of the most meaningful parts of life on Mercer Island happen outside of organized activities.

It might be watching one of their daughters discover something she loves, riding bikes through the woods, paddling on the lake, gathering for a movie or sitting around the dinner table after a long day.

The family is in a busy season of life, and they know it won't last forever. The muddy uniforms, horses, softball tournaments, car rides and constantly changing schedules are all part of raising three girls.

“We’ve just adjusted to being really busy,” Jennifer says. “The kids are growing up quickly, so even the weekends that involve multiple different activities, muddy uniforms, horses, and a lot of time in the car are ones we're trying to appreciate while we're in them.”

For the Gerrys, that may be the best definition of home: not just the house they live in, but the people, friendships, routines and memories they are creating together.