On Tool Time: Tim and Al are building a deck. Surprisingly, there is NO catastrophe! At home: Tim's mother-in-law comes for a visit from Texas. To everyone's surprise, she is no longer super-fat; in fact, she is slim. Since Jill's parents are moving to a new condo, her mother has decided to give some items to her daughters. Jill wishes for their antique wooden clock, but her mother has chosen a tea set for her. Jill is unable to tell her mother about how she feels about the clock, and Tim fails to understand what's the problem.

When Jill's parents come to visit for Christmas, her mother complains that Jill's father just wants to spend his retirement sitting around the house.

After completing a hectic quarter in college and is on break, Jill gets a call from her Father, The Colonel that he will be paying a visit. Jill, feeling tired, tells a lie to him saying that it wouldn't be a good time to visit because she's feeling sick, but a few days later, he dies. Grief stricken and feeling very guilty for lying, she flies to Texas to help in the funeral arrangements and Tim and the boys will join her in a couple of days. While there, Jill tries to tell her Mom and her sisters that she's okay, but they think she's sick and is putting a brave front. During the funeral, the Minister presiding talks about how her Father valued honesty, which makes her feel worse. Jill decides to tell her Mom the truth about when he wanted to visit.

Jill's mother is visiting for Christmas. It is the first one since her husband died. Jill has a hard time seeing her mother with another man. Meanwhile, Tim decorates for Christmas in his usual, over-the-top, way.

Jill's operation is completed, and she has had a total hysterectomy. Jill is really upset at what this represents. Jill's mother visits to help around the house. Jill's mood swings are all over the place.