Two Oceanside kids got a sweet surprise Monday night when their dad, a Marine Corps service member, returned home from deployment and made a cameo while they were meeting Santa.
Five-year-old Aubrey and 2-year-old Grayson were sitting on Santaโs lap at the Carlsbad Premium Outlets, when dad Chad Beckerleg walked through the door.
โWho is that?โ Santa asked.
โDaddy,โ Aubrey replied.
The two fell into their dadโs arms, giggling, as their mom, Alyssa Beckerleg looked on. Then, Grayson tugged at his mom to join them in a family group hug.
Chad traveled 20 hours on three planes to be home for Christmas, according to a mall spokeswoman.
Mom Alyssa said the kids were โshocked, excited and were convince that he rode in on Santaโs sleigh,โ the spokeswoman said.