Steve is left home as the family plan a trip to Boston hoping to locate a college for Hayley. When his friends arrive they convince him to break the rules, resulting in them finding the controls to a military drone in Stan's study.

Meanwhile, after Stan leaves the plane to return home for his painkillers, Roger changes disguise from a little girl to a Stan constume so he can get served alcohol. When an air marshal notices that the girl is missing, he grounds the plane and investigates.

Steve must become the man of the house when Stan re-lives his childhood.

Greg and Terry decide to adopt a 10-year-old Russian boy named Michael. At a party celebrating the decision, Roger is jealous of Greg and Terry's fabulous lifestyle of culture and sophistication. Roger rejects the Smith family as trashy and impersonates Michael, successfully integrating into his new home.

Stan is horrified when he sees a couple die in a car crash, and he goes to see a shrink. Meanwhile, Roger and Klaus study for a wine tasting.

Steve gets competitive during the father-son events at Possum Lake. Roger learns how to ride a bike.

Stan, reluctantly invites Roger into his ham club. Francine decides to scare Greg.

After Stan's plan for the perfect Christmas goes terribly, tragically wrong, he's given a magical opportunity to make things right.