It’s homecoming week at school for Derek, and every day has its unique theme. Yesterday was Color Day, when each class dressed in an assigned color. Sophomores wore green.

Everyone competes for best costume, and the winner earns points for their class. Given Derek’s love for competition, he decided he would go all out for this one and chose to dress as a life-size plastic army guy.

Making the costume was a family affair. The younger kids helped with brushing the green semigloss layer onto the coat and boots.

Meanwhile, Derek and Jim spray painted costume parts into the night.

The painting continued after church on Sunday…

with curious onlookers.

One quart of kelly green semigloss and six cans of spray paint later, we coated the entire outfit.

As I shot pictures of this life-size plastic army guy in the front yard before he left for school,

I kept thinking of our old Eye-Spy books. “I spy with my little eye…a green army guy”

His brothers had some fun with him.

Then after a few minor adjustments,

he was loaded into the car and brought to school.

We were happy to learn that our hard work paid off: the army guy won best costume in the school!