When you flip over your calendar to start a new month, you never truly know what life has in store. Notes are scribbled on various dates, reminding you of scheduled outings, but nothing is really set in stone. All it takes is one phone call, one moment, to make time stand still. Then all those notes on your calendar seem irrelevant and life choses a new course for your month.

November was one of those months where life took control of our schedule. A mere two weeks into the month I got a phone call that my grandmother had passed away. Even though she was 93 years old, the news of her passing came as a shock. My heart wasn’t prepared to say goodbye just yet, but it was healing to be surrounded by family as we celebrated her life.

Picking up the camera to document our outings slipped my mind this month, but I was able to find a few photos to share. First up is our visit to Schlitz Audubon Nature Center. It was a brisk winter day, but Ian and I bundled up and walked along the winding trails. We came across ice covered ponds, a wigwam, and an observation tower that overlooked Lake Michigan. Seeing as the nature preserve is only a short drive away from our apartment, it was the perfect way to enjoy a low-key afternoon.

On another chilly afternoon, Ian and I drove to a new café/brewery in town, Vennture Brew Co. Being a combined brewery and café, Ian and I were both able to enjoy the experience. I ordered a pour-over coffee and Ian tried out one of their seasonal brews. I have a feeling we will become regulars!

November ended with a trip to parents’ house to celebrate Thanksgiving. Our stay was filled with playing games, decorating gingerbread houses, and meeting up with friends at Wollersheim’s Vintage Christmas. Spending time with friends and family was the perfect way to close out the month.

Interested in seeing a snippet from each day in November? Watch our Month in Review video below!