Eric Randall is a carefree bachelor who lives in Chicago, successful as a writer of bachelor lifestyle books. As the holiday season approaches, he finds himself in the unexpected position of having to take care of his young niece and nephew while their parents travel abroad. Eric has no experience taking care of children and feels overwhelmed by the responsibility.
Eric has a better idea and he turns to his next-door neighbor April for help. At first, April is hesitant to take on the role of caregiver, but her love for Christmas and her kind heart win out, and she agrees to help Eric. April is the perfect person to help Eric since she is an expert at all things Christmas. April has a decorated Christmas tree in every room in her house, and she even dresses up her pets in festive attire.
As the days go on with the children under Eric and April's care, the two of them become close. April helps Eric learn to take care of the children, and in the process, Eric learns that there is more to life than just living carefree. With April's guidance, Eric becomes a more responsible and caring person, and it becomes apparent that the two of them have developed romantic feelings toward each other.
However, Eric realizes that he has to choose between his new responsibilities as a caretaker and the carefree life he has always known and loved. To his surprise, he finds that he is willing to make sacrifices for the well-being of his loved ones. In the end, Eric and April come together and celebrate Christmas with the children, and the bonds between them only become stronger. The movie ends with the whole group watching Christmas movies and the happy family enjoying each other's company.