Las tres generaciones de Camden temen la visita anual de los padres de Eric, "El Coronel" (John Camden) y la abuela Ruth Camden. La tensión entre padre e hijo aumenta cuando tanto Eric como "El Coronel" quieren adoptar a un niño de 10 años sin hogar y huérfano, George. George se había escapado del orfanato donde se alojaba y estaba escondido dentro de la iglesia de Eric. Eric expresa abiertamente su desdén por las habilidades de crianza de sus padres. Mientras tanto, Annie descubre el destino de sus anillos de boda perdidos cuando los ve con una mujer en la tienda.

Cuando los padres de Eric regresan para visitar a su hijo recién adoptado George, de diez años de edad, se sorprenden al conocer al verdadero padre del niño, quien desea desesperadamente ser parte de su vida nuevamente. Annie intenta entusiasmar a la familia mientras está construyendo un bote de remos en el patio trasero. Mientras tanto, la hermana de Eric, Julie, sale de rehabilitación y tiene dificultades para reconectarse con sus padres y su familia en la casa de Camden. Además, con un poco de ayuda de Matt y Mary, Lucy intenta preparar a su novio Jimmy para encontrarse con sus abuelos formidables, "El Coronel" y la abuela Ruth.

El padre sensato de Eric, John "The Colonel" (estrella invitada Peter Graves) regresa cuando se entera de una serie de problemas en la casa de Camden. Mary está celosa de un nuevo miembro del equipo de baloncesto que está recibiendo mucha atención. Las calificaciones en declive de Lucy se deben a que ella anda con una mala multitud, mientras que Ruthie necesita copiar a Simon en su búsqueda para ser un mago. Mientras tanto, Eric no tiene en cuenta todos los problemas familiares que lo rodean, ya que está preocupado por escribir un sermón que debe ser cubierto por un equipo de cámara. Mientras tanto, Annie está haciendo todas las tareas domésticas y solo en la iglesia, mientras que todos los demás están haciendo lo suyo.

En el final de la segunda temporada, Eric y Annie se sorprenden y entristecen de que Mary pueda estar embarazada después de hablar con su médico por teléfono. Mientras tanto, Matt hace un anuncio de que se va a casa antes de lo esperado para que pueda comenzar un programa de entrenamiento de verano en Washington DC. Sin embargo, Matt pronto se da cuenta de que "El Coronel" fue la verdadera razón de cómo ingresó al programa y debe decidir si Él debería tomarlo o no. Además, Simon y Ruthie están abatidos cuando el dueño original de Happy viene a reclamarla. Luego, la familia hace todo lo posible por recuperarla. Además, el padre de Annie, Charles y Ginger crean un compromiso falso para desalentar a Eric y Annie cuando intentan rescatar a Happy con el resto de la familia, pero más tarde hacen que el compromiso sea real. Por último, una gran sorpresa espera a Eric y Annie mientras descubren algo maravilloso.

Mary and Lucy selfishly make Matt feel 'guilty' he hasn't moved out yet, although Annie still hopes to keep him home in a garage apartment. They even get Hank to find him a menial morning job in the hospital cafeteria. But Simon feels desert when Matt takes an apartment with John Hamilton. Eric and Annie worry about the Colonel's attitude to Julie's marriage, but the grandparents have gone soft after an around-the-world trip, as George's crazy hairstyle illustrates. But the stress gives already-overworked Eric a mild heart attack.

Matt blames his first-ever bad grade, for the crucial course organic chemistry, on everyone and collect excuses to delay studying rather then seek help. Simon is desperately lonely again after Jim's ma absurdly blamed him, but finds unhoped popularity when helping Lucy campaign for ball queen. Eric worries more about a surprise visit then the obvious reason, another attempt to make Mary see sense now she's behind with her car insurance payments.

Robbie remains inconsolable since Mary left with Wilson. The Colonel figures she won't go to college but marry and be a mother to Billy, so he insists on a job, preferably in public service, but he nor Wilson are pleased she opts for the police or fire department. Lucy refuses to explain why she left the New York seminary, apparently after a break-up with Jeremy, and Robbie is parentally dissuaded as consoling company. Annie works out her pre-menopause frustration on Eric, and he takes it out deviously on model student Simon for just a bit of attitude. Matt loses his hospital orderly job, but soon gets another: in a free clinic with mainly teenage and young-adult mothers-to-be.

Annie discovers Ruthie is writing to a Marine fighting in Afghanistan as part of a school project. The Camden family read what Ruthie has written to her pen pal about their lives and in turn learn about a Marine who so bravely has left his wife and son to fight in the war against terror. When Ruthie fails to get a response email at school and Eric hears about a helicopter going down killing two people he contacts the Colonel.

La familia Camden se reúne para la boda de Matt y Sarah. Eric y el rabino se reconcilian mientras que Ben y Kevin deciden ir a Glen Oak para buscar a Mary y Lucy. Ruthie y Simon resuelven sus problemas con Robbie.

After a scary arrest which could have gone fatally wrong, Kevin decides to leave the police before someone gets hurts as he can no longer concentrate on anything but his young family. Ruthie brings over Meredith and her presumed boyfriend Jack, who proves a natural with babies and a nice senior - too old, so - and is on to her plan; Meredith actually is more interested in the other good boy, Tyler, who agrees with a demure kiss to date. The colonel arrives, winking to Martin about his Iraq veteran dad's gardening job and to Eric's surprise already knows about Charlie - even got and believes Mary's version that Carlos cheated on her, but Carlos explains she just 'caught' him dining with Cecily, the nanny he had to hire because Mary was never home. Simon first scolds, then consoles his ex Sandy for having seduced and made a baby with Martin. Eric spoils the twins fun playing cowboys with granddad because he bans all gun toys and is told to bother about real problems. Lou Dalton tells Eric most parishioners want Lucy fired as his associate pastor.

Colonel John Camden and his wife Ruth are staying over on their way to Hawaii, unannounced. Fearing they will spill the beans, Lucy wants to skip town with Kevin supposedly to help Simon, asking Sandy to cover church service, so she stays in their place with baby Aaron; she's warm to boy-friend Dr. Jonathan Sanderson, chilly to Martin. T-Bone needs help for his first Valentine's day with a girl-friend, Ruthie insists they get matching tattoos, despite his and Margaret's reluctance for permanent markings, having to hide them for the Camdens and a serious needle-phobia. Mac is happy moving into the trio's apartment means 'adult' independence, the girls see domestic misery. When Jane gets her divorce papers from soldier Jack, she wants to wait till after Valentine's day. The grandparents overhear the twins with their parents, and suggest they may soon move for good. Lucy changes her minds and turns up with Kevin.