School has started. Its back to the old routine, but before another summer is gone for good, lets have a Labor Day party in the sand and the sun! There is nothing like the last holiday of the summer season, and with a little planning and a lot of sun screen, the summer sun can kiss your skin, before the cool fall air turn leaves to brilliant reds, rusts, gold, and greens, as the season prepares to usher old man winter in.

Labor Day parties at the beach or by the lake, with burgers and hot dogs sizzling on the grill, and marshmallows roasting on the bonfire that casts its brightness upon the night, are an American tradition. Labor Day parties are among the most traditional, cherished, easily planned and executed of all the years parties. What could be simpler, or more pleasant, then smoky charbroiled hotdogs on buns, lemonade, and a dip in your favorite body of water?

Labor day began more than one hundred years ago, as a tribute to working men and women in several different countries, but now, labor day is summers last hurrah. One last chance to gather with family and friends, cook out, swims, go boating, and enjoy the great beauty of nature in Summers last warm embrace of the year.

Whether you spend the day quietly at home relaxing, or in one final fair weather celebration of summer, you are sure to enjoy a Labor Day Party of your own. If, like most people, you spend Labor Day weekend enjoying the outdoors with your family, a few simple rules can make this day the best of the year. First, decide if your labor day will be spent in your own back yard, at a lake, or on the beach.

A great way to divide the work, so everyone can enjoy the holiday, is to have each person bring a dish (bachelors or people who do not cook can still contribute with paper goods, drinks, or other necessities like ice) while one or two people agree to be responsible for the grill, and its juicy, delicious treats.

Be sure to keep youngsters cool and entertained at your Labor Day party, with water volleyball in the pool, water balloon wars, or even old favorites like egg races, three-legged sack races, and horse shoes.

A great way to end the day is with good, old fashioned, home made ice cream. Whether you add fruits, nuts, or other favorites like crushed malted milk balls or candy bars, there is nothing like home made ice cream to be the perfect end to your Labor Day party.