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Video: Jacksonville mother returns from deployment to surprise kids at school

For most families, it’s a given that they’ll be spending Thanksgiving with their parents.

Until Monday, 2nd-grader Logan Dean -- and his younger sister Taylor -- thought they’d be celebrating without their mother.

Sailor Holly Davis was unexpectedly deployed in May, leaving very little time to say goodbye.

She told Action News Jax, “It’s very difficult. This is my first deployment since we’ve had kids.”

Six months later, she surprised her children days before the holiday -- while they were practicing their Thanksgiving skit at Victory Christian Academy.

The mother described, “It was amazing … they were so shocked.  I think they thought I wasn’t real.”

Landon said it took a second for his mom’s return to sink in.

He said, “I was so happy, and I was hugging mommy.”

When asked if he was surprised Landon described, “Yes, like infinity percent, all the way over the earth.”

Finally reunited the family explained there’s a lot to look forward to.

Dean said: “Getting to spend Thanksgiving with my family and getting to see family we don’t get to see very often is really exciting.”

Meanwhile Landon was just happy to have his mom back in his arms.

“I just wanted her home all the time,” said the elementary student.