When Leighton and Josh Peebles bought their first home, a neighbor welcomed them with a seven-layer dip, and the families remain close friends to this day. When the Peebles moved to The Village at Castle Pines in 2019, at first, they thought the days of bringing dishes and meeting neighbors was a thing of the past.

But keeping with tradition, the Peebles took a seven-layer dip to a new neighbor and the families bonded quickly.

In early 2021, the Peebles met another family at the end of the block, the Ortegons, and together hosted a brunch that lasted all day. “It was an absolute blast and kick-started our friendship with them,” said Leighton. Two other families, the Curnalias and the Jennings, moved to the neighborhood later that year.

That Christmas, wanting to get everyone together, Leighton hosted a holiday cookie decorating party for the moms and children that has since sparked a tradition among the neighbors.  “I hoped it would be a fun gathering where we could get to know one another and our kids, too,” said Leighton.

The families ended up spending the entire day together and even the husbands joined the fun. Every year since, the group gathers to hang out in pajamas and reminisce “about all of our past memories and the memories yet to come,” said Leighton.  They refer to December 22 as their “friendship anniversary.”

Today, the neighborhood has grown organically and wonderfully into a network of friends who take care of each other.

In addition to the family gatherings, Leighton added that the moms do girls trips and try to have coffee on a regular basis. The families have scheduled movie nights with an outside projector complete with a popcorn and candy buffet.

“We buy cupcakes for each kiddos birthdays and go to their houses and sing for them; we schedule block parties and random nights out in the street while the kids ride bikes and play,” added Leighton. She continued that the neighbors look out for each other in times of need as well. When Leighton was in a wheelchair, her friends decorated the inside of her house for the holidays.

This past Christmas, almost the entire block displayed inflatable Santas to line the street. They also worked together freezing tins of colored water to make an igloo for the children to enjoy. Leighton noted, “Sometimes people joke that they walk down our block just to see what is going on because someone is always outside involved in an activity!”

Leighton and Josh met in 2010 when they both attended Metropolitan State University Denver. They married in 2014 and have two children, Carson (8) and Reagan (5). The family has two dogs, a golden retriever and a St. Bernard/poodle mix.

Josh is the executive vice president and regional president to lead the Denver expansion of Encore Bank.

Leighton mentors kids with A Precious Child, a nonprofit based in Broomfield that helps children find the resources they need to reach their full potential.

The love the Peebles have for their neighborhood is unmeasurable. “I hope our story of true friendship represents what the Village is all about,” Leighton reflected. “Life well-lived takes a village, and I am so grateful for mine. Go out, meet your neighbors, bring a seven-layer dip and make new friends!”

 

 

By Hollen Wheeler; photos courtesy of Leighton Peebles