BIG BEND -- A local dad surprised his two daughters at their elementary school after a long deployment in Kuwait.
Sgt. First Class Jason Middleton has been deployed overseas since January. Being away from his five daughters has been hard and emotional but when he realized he would be home for Halloween, he came up with a delightful treat for his two girls, 6-year-old Amelia and 7-year-old Josie.
"I'm excited. I know they are going to be super excited," said Middleton.
With the help of Big Bend Elementary School's principal Shawn Waller and their daughter’s teachers, the faculty and staff came up with a master plan to surprise the girls.
Principal Waller announced the girl’s class won a special contest this giving them the honor to lead the Halloween parade onto the gymnasium stage.
Waiting in disguise, was Middleton. He was dressed up as the school's mascot, "Buddy the Bulldog".
With the girls front and center, "Buddy" took a few pictures of the class until he removed the mascot head for the big reveal.
It took a moment before the girls realized their father was dressed up as the mascot but after a brief pause, they leaped into their father's arms.
"Is this your best Halloween ever?" asked Middleton. " Yes," replied Josie and Amelia.
The girls said having their dad back is just like Christmas.
The family plans on trick-or-treating Wednesday night.
