Stan has a crush on the new neighborhood dog, Princess, but he has to figure out how to get past her owner, who is a pretentious schoolmate of Avery's.
In an effort to teach the James-Jennings kids the true meaning behind Christmas, Stan hides all of the holiday presents from the family, ultimately teaching them a greater lesson about giving back to others.
Avery becomes worried when she has a recurring dream that she and Karl are boyfriend and girlfriend. Meanwhile, Chloe wants to give up choir to become a BMX bike rider like Tyler.
Avery, and her best friends, Max and Lindsay, all discover they're dating the same guy. Meanwhile, Tyler is accused of cheating and must prove his innocence.
Stan is getting married to Princess, and to help fund the event the family submits the wedding to the "Wacky Jackie" television show, a reality program in which Jackie, a wealthy teen, spends her own money to pay for wacky and fun stunts.
Chloe discovers that Avery uses her to get close to a boy she likes. Meanwhile, Tyler pretends to go to a competition rather than telling the family he didn't qualify.
After accidentally ruining Ellen's new couch, Stan wishes he'd never been a part of the family and wonders what it would have been like if he had been a cat instead.
After running over a neighbor's lawn gnome, Avery asks Tyler to help her prep for her driving test. Meanwhile, Chloe's afraid that getting older will jeopardize her title as "the cute one."
Ellen and Bennett find out that Stan can talk, and shortly after the entire James-Jennings family is taken hostage by the U.S. Space Command's Alien Division.