Fall of Firsts!

**UPDATE** - Recipe for cupcakes is below!

Lots of FIRSTS this fall for lil' man! Tomorrow is his first Halloween party with lots of other little ones! What is he dressing up as?! You have to check back and see! GranDoc and Grandma picked out and bought his first costume for him. So sweet.

And what are we taking to the party?

These bad boys! Pumpkin Cupcakes w/ Cream Cheese Icing. They were super easy and...HOMEMADE! I'm telling you people - homemade stuff is the way to go! After I made the icing, I put it in a ziplock bag and cut the tip off - I had never done this before and it worked like a charm. The only thing they are lacking is the candy corn on top! (Little does my hubby know that he is going to have to run down the street and buy them tonite! Thanks in advance my prince!).

I will post pics of the FINISHED product later!

RECIPE FOR CUPCAKES - Thanks to www.realsimple.com (and some of my "flare")

Makes 24 cupcakesHands-On Time: 15mTotal Time: 40m

Ingredients

• 1 18.5-ounce box yellow cake mix (plus the ingredients called for in the package directions)
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree
• 2 8-ounce bars cream cheese, at room temperature
• 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 24 pieces candy corn

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350° F. Line two 12-cup muffin tins with paper liners. Prepare the cake mix as directed but with the following change: Add the pumpkin pie spice and substitute the can of pumpkin puree for the water called for in the package directions.
2. Divide the batter among the prepared muffin tins and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 18 to 22 minutes. Let cool.
3. Meanwhile, using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and sugar until creamy. Spread on the cupcakes and top each with a piece of candy corn.

***So....to jazz up the cupcakes here are two things I did -

1. I put the icing in a ziplock bag. The easiest way to get it in the bag is to put your ziplock bag in a cup with the edges pulled over the lid....then just spoon in the icing. Then push all the icing into the corner and try to get out as much air as possible. Then cut a little of the corner to form a little pastry bag. Remember - you can always cut more so don't cut it too big the first time.

2. I sprinkled cinnamon on top...makes it look like my favorite cupcakes from the shop down the street :)

Here is the picture from REAL SIMPLE -

AND HERE IS MY FINISHED PRODUCT :) - I happen to think my cupcake is cuter!

ALSO - my sweet cousin had her twin boys yesterday and everyone is doing great even though the boys are having to be monitored due to low blood sugar. They have yet to all be together as a family...hopefully on Friday both boys can be with Nicole in her room! Pics to come later!