A soldier who was stationed in Djibouti, Africa surprised his family by returning home to New Jersey Sunday evening.

Christopher Romeo, of Hardyston, hadn't seen his family since Feb. 4.

Romeo says he started planning the way he wanted to return home when he saw his town's fire department going on its annual Santa run to deliver presents to children. Knowing he would be home in December, he kept in touch with members of the department while he was serving, so they could make the moment come to life.

Hardyston Fire Department Captain Kevin Fryer told Romeo's wife that Santa would drop off gifts for their three children for a story in the local paper on the department's Santa Run Sunday evening.

Mobile 12 captured footage of the fire trucks and homemade sled arriving outside Romeo's home.

Surrounded by friends and family, his children, Adrianna, Alanna and Brandon, receiving gifts from Santa- and then, emerging from the fire truck, the greatest surprise of all - Christopher Romeo.

The family tells News 12 they are most looking forward to having the opportunity to spend time together.