A time-and-motion expert and his engineer wife use scientific principles to raise their twelve children.

Life is very different now in the rambling Gilbreth house.When the youngest was two and the oldest eighteen, Dad died and Mother bravely took over his business. Now, to keep the family together, everyone has to pitch in and pinch pennies. The resourceful clan rises to every crisis with a marvelous sense of fun -- whether it's battling chicken pox, giving the boot to an unwelcome boyfriend, or even meeting the President. And the few distasteful things...

Tom and his wife Kate bring their clan together for a memorable summer getaway. Their dream vacation turns into an outrageous competition with the overachieving, overzealous family of Tom's longtime rival.