Tonight we are having a family get-together at my aunt’s house to celebrate the upcoming holiday. I have a big family, and I truly love these types of gatherings as they give me time to relax and catch up with everyone. With my cousins going back to school and summer coming to an end, it’s the perfect time to come together and celebrate. I did some cooking last night for the party. It was my job to make a few desserts. I decided to make something that would be fun for my little cousins to eat yet still delicious for the adults. I made homemade raspberry and strawberry Jello with fresh raspberries mixed in. I put the Jello in individual serving dishes. It took all my self control not to eat one this morning! The second dessert was an easy classic. I mixed chocolate pudding with Cool Whip and put the mix in a graham cracker crust. When the pie sets, I’ll add another layer of Cool Whip on top and sprinkle some chocolate chips to top it off. I can’t wait to try it. The family party will be the beginning of my Labor Day celebrations. I am going to Manasquan Beach for the weekend, which will probably be the last weekend I’m able to spend at the beach. Summer went by too quickly. I hope everyone has a great Labor Day weekend! — Amanda Smith, advertising and editorial coordinator