In the middle of a soldier 's deployment to Qatar , he decided fly home to surprise his daughters just in time for his youngest 's second birthday . Army National Guard Sgt First Class Joseph Kern flew home to Cherry Hill , New Jersey during his fifth deployment on Thursday and will be with his family for five days . His first stop after he touched down on American soil was his two-year-old daughter Pearl 's classroom , where he had the chance to surprise her and his other daughter , three-year-old Estelle . Scroll down for video . Army National Guard Sgt First Class Joseph Kern flew home from his deployment in Qatar to surprise his two daughters , Estelle , three , and Pearl , two . He surprised the girls in Pearl 's ( front ) classroom on her second birthday on Thursday . He 'll be home for five days . Kern 's wife , Sarah Woldoff , a neuro-psychologist in Princeton , said that the military no longer offers leave , so the couple had to pay out of pocket for him to come home , according to ABC . He left for Qatar in June and had already missed Estelle 's birthday , so Woldoff said her husband 's plane ticket was 'worth every dollar ' . She added that seeing Kern reunite with their daughters was 'breathtaking ' . Estelle was ' a little bit confused and in shock ' when she saw her dad , according to Woldoff . Kern and his wife Sarah Woldoff ( left , holding Estelle ) said that Pearl did n't immediately recognize him , but Woldoff said the reunion was still 'breathtaking ' Woldoff said that the couple was 'disappointed ' with Pearl 's response , but they hope having the video will help her remember the reunion when she gets older . Unfortunately , Pearl did n't seem to recognize her dad when he walked in , and instead when to hug her grandpa . 'We were both slightly disappointed with Pearl 's response , ' Woldoff told ABC . 'You never realize that they 're so young , they do n't have as much memory of him as we anticipated . ' But the mom-of-two hopes that having the reunion on video will help her daughter remember it when she get older . 'In hindsight , I 'm really glad we did it the way we did . Pearl 's too little to have the memory of it , but I think Estelle will remember , ' she said . 'And it 'll ease the transition . Everyone forgets he has to go back on Tuesday , and it 's really confusing for her on why he has to leave again . ' Woldoff said that the National Guard does not give leave anymore , so the couple paid out of pocket for Kern 's visit . Kern missed Estelle 's ( right ) birthday while he was away , so this trip was 'worth every dollar ' , according to Woldoff . His daughters were n't the only ones he had the chance to surprise during his time home , however . Kern surprised his mom at a restaurant by dressing up like a waiter and walking around the dining room as she ate . 'My mother-in-law did n't even realize it was him . We had to point it out , ' Woldoff said . 'She lost it . She was in utter shock and just hysterical . ' Kern will likely be in Qatar until June , making it a year-long deployment , according to NorthJersey.com . Kern left for Qatar last June and will likely stay until this upcoming June , making it a year-long trip . Here his is pictured with Pearl ( left ) and Estelle ( right ) in June 2014 , right before his deployment . Estelle and Pearl apparently have a pillow with their dad 's picture on it . Pictured here on a hayride , it looks like the girls take him everywhere while he 's away . This is Kern 's fifth deployment with the Army National Guard . He will return to Qatar on Tuesday after five days at home .
The National Guard Class Joseph Kern , of Cherry Hill , New Jersey , has been deployed in Qatar since June 2014 . He decided to fly home to celebrate his two-year-old 's birthday on Thursday . The dad missed his three-year-old daughter 's birthday while he was away . His wife described his reunion with his daughters as 'breathtaking ' Army National Guard Sgt First soldier will return to Qatar on Tuesday .