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.

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.

Eric threatens Robbie with eviction because he thinks he's keeping secrets about Mary. The house is abuzz with secrets and preparations for an elaborate surprise party for Eric's birthday. Johnny drops Mercy on the Camdens' doorstep after Frankie abandons them. Mike trusts Lucy enough to look after his mother for a day, during which the woman surprises her, both by speaking and by what she says.

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.

The Colonel sends a nutty old lady to help the Camdens.

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.

When they realize that Ruthie has a secret and T-Bone won't talk, the Camden parents fear that her sudden religious interest means something bad, even if their denial of sex is sincere. After some prodding, the twins tell Annie, Kevin drags and bribes out of Mac, Lucy learns from Sandy, and even Eric gets from Margaret and Jane that it's just tattoos--just like Simon, Lucy, and Mary before her, supposedly all unknown to their parents. Again everyone tries to pretend to the others neither to know nor to have told; then the game shifts to guessing who knows what and who, if anyone, should tell Eric..