Christmas Friend

So I've had a little reindeer friend for about 5 years now. He has joined me as in all 4 of my classrooms and had many stories written about him. He has been enjoyed by nieces and nephews and has made many friends laugh. He is Rudy, the over-stuff reindeer. He joined the family after being saved from a Steinmart shelf by my mother. The story is that he was the reindeer that ate all the cookies, since Santa's trying to watch his weight. Since he ate too many, he can't fly anymore, so during the Christmas season he comes to stay with me. (I taught 1st, 2nd & 3rd grade, I had to have a story about him!!!) Last year, Thomas met him and wasn't too impressed, this year they are practically inseperable! Most mornings and evenings you can find the two of them together throughout the house. They decorated the tree together, watch TV together, eat together, and play together. I swear that Thomas does this all on his own, without prompting or even a suggestion. I think both of them will be sad later this week when Rudy has to go back to the North Pole.