<text>  In the middle of a soldiers deployment to Qatar, he decided fly home to surprise his daughters just in time for his youngests 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 Pearls 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 Pearls front classroom on her second birthday on Thursday. Hell be home for five days . Kerns 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 Estelles birthday, so Woldoff said her husbands 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 didnt immediately recognize him, but Woldoff said the reunion was still breathtaking Woldoff said that the couple was disappointed with Pearls response, but they hope having the video will help her remember the reunion when she gets older . Unfortunately, Pearl didnt seem to recognize her dad when he walked in, and instead when to hug her grandpa. We were both slightly disappointed with Pearls response, Woldoff told ABC. You never realize that theyre so young, they dont 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, Im really glad we did it the way we did. Pearls too little to have the memory of it, but I think Estelle will remember, she said. And itll ease the transition. Everyone forgets he has to go back on Tuesday, and its 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 Kerns visit . Kern missed Estelles right birthday while he was away, so this trip was worth every dollar, according to Woldoff . His daughters werent 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 didnt 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 dads picture on it. Pictured here on a hayride, it looks like the girls take him everywhere while hes away . This is Kerns fifth deployment with the Army National Guard. He will return to Qatar on Tuesday after five days at home . 