When Mike realizes all the things a stressed-out Vanessa does to get ready for Christmas, he delegates the family to take on decorating the tree, writing the family newsletter and putting up the church Nativity scene.

To snap Eve out of her funk of not getting into West Point Academy, Mike hopes that taking her to Outdoor Man will show her different career options. But both Mike and Vanessa are taken aback by the unexpected influence that car mechanic Joe has on her. Meanwhile, Mandy makes Kristin feel like they no longer have anything in common.