Missy’s my sister-in-law. Pesky Tim’s wife. Well, by the technical definition I suppose we’re not actually sisters-in-law, but I don’t always necessarily adhere to “technical definitions” in my life. So for my purposes Missy is and always will be my sister-in-law…well, unless she and Tim should ever divorce, which OF COURSE would never happen, but I’m just trying to cover all my bases.
Now that I’ve ended my psychotic monologue, I’d like to tell you a few things about Missy.
1. She’s a country girl.
2. She’s very good with horses.
3. She has an incredibly sophisticated sense of style: she can go from nasty jeans and manure-caked boots to beautiful, flowy-hair, hip sweaters, and always—always—a freaking awesome scarf or pair of earrings that supports the widely-held theory that the only thing separating us from the animals is our ability to accessorize. (Name that movie.) Missy is a real looker, but most of the time she keeps that under wraps, only breaking it out at certain strategic times, usually coinciding with times when I just so happen to look terrible. And when Missy’s all snazzed up and you’re standing next to her, you’d better look dadgum good, is all I’m saying. Because—hypothetically speaking, of course—if you look terrible, you look extra terrible. Not that I’m bitter.
4. Missy and I are exactly the same height.
5. Missy is a great deal of fun. She’s game for anything and everything, whereas I, given the opportunity, would stay home, pick my toes, and never interact with anyone, ever.
6. Missy laughs a lot—and more specifically, laughs at me a lot. This makes me love her.
7. Missy and I have the exact same shoe size.
8. Missy takes my girls shopping and is responsible for any stitch of clothing they have in their closet. If Missy were not alive, my girls would have to wear karate clothes to church. This makes me love her.
9. Missy loves to play board games.
10. Missy is a much better aunt than me, and here’s why: I had a baby. Then she had a baby. Then I had another baby. Then she had another baby. Everything was fine. And we were even.
Then I had another baby. And to help me out (and to keep her children occupied, she said) she took my first two children with her. A lot. “Thanks so much,” I’d say, as she drove away from my house with my two girls in tow. “I’ll make it up to you once I get back on my feet again!” And I meant it. I really did.
Then I had another baby. And to help me out, Missy took my three children with her. A lot. “Thanks so much,” I’d say, as she drove away from my house with my two girls and my boy in tow. “I’ll make it up to you once I get back on my feet again!” And I meant it. I really did. Problem was, the new baby, my fourth, was premature—an emergency cesarean—so it took me longer to “get back on my feet again.”
Then I just sorta kinda maybe possibly got a little bit used to Missy being “the aunt that took the kids to go do things.” I played the “I have a new baby” card just long enough for it to become sorta status quo around here. And to this day, Missy is the one that takes all the kids to movies in the big city, takes them to eat in restaurants, and takes them shopping for everything from new jeans to hermit crabs. (Don’t ask.) In February, Tim and Missy even took my girls skiing in Colorado for a week. I don’t know how I ever got this lucky.
In turn, I have settled comfortably into being the “aunt who never leaves the house” and as such, I’m happy to welcome her two children into my house for movie night and sleepovers, except when her boy uses all the dental floss in my house to recreate Spider Man 2, and even then I remind myself of all Missy’s done for me and I usually let it slide.
Missy has spent so much time with my kids, she treats them like they’re her own. I’m never more thankful for this than when the kids are riding, because if they run into trouble I’m about as much help as a cow pie. Even less—at least a cow pie fertilizes the ground.
I have no idea what I’m saying. But I do know this: Missy is the greatest.
While driving cattle a couple of weeks ago, my boy hit a bit of a snag.
Everyone had to cross a large ditch with the herd of cattle, but L.B., my beloved horse, didn’t want to go. My boy wasn’t too jazzed about it either.
Since Missy always keeps a distant eye on all the kids—including mine—she knew right away he needed help.
So I took another sip of my coffee and watched it all unfold.
And they lived happily ever after.
And then, I totally ceased to exist.
But that’s okay. I know my children love me. From the movie theater. With Missy. Wearing those awesome new clothes. Petting their new hermit crabs. And daydreaming about their magical ski trip.
Not that I’m bitter.
Ree Drummond is the founder of The Pioneer Woman and a lover of butter, basset hounds and life on the ranch! Ree started her blog in 2006, and now millions visit ThePioneerWoman.com every month for her trusted recipes and fun family stories. Here’s what she has been up to since it all began:
New York Times Bestselling Author
Ree has written two memoirs (Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, and Frontier Follies) plus nine bestselling cookbooks:
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl (2009)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from My Frontier (2012)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays (2013)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime (2015)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Come and Get It! (2017)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The New Frontier (2019)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Super Easy (2021)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinner’s Ready! (2023)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The Essential Recipes (2025)
Food Network Host
Since 2011, Ree has been sharing simple, family-friendly recipes—and the occasional kitchen prank!—on her award-winning show The Pioneer Woman, filmed right on Drummond Ranch. Ree is also a regular judge on Food Network competitions, including Christmas Cookie Challenge.
Founder, The Pioneer Woman Collection
Ree has been creating and selling kitchen and home products at Walmart since 2015 and she’s involved in designing every piece and pattern. The line now includes best-selling appliances (you have to see the floral blender!), plus hundreds of pieces of cookware, tableware, and more. Ree doesn’t like to play favorites but the Agatha print has a special place in her heart.
Restaurant and Hotel Owner
Together with her husband Ladd, Ree has opened several bustling businesses in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, including The Pioneer Woman Mercantile—a bakery, restaurant, and general store that draws visitors from across the country (many come for the biscuits alone!), P-Town Pizza, Charlie’s Ice Cream Shop, and The Boarding House, a charming hotel with eight different rooms decorated by Ree and Ladd.
Media Personality
Ree appears regularly on national TV shows like Today, Good Morning America and more—all while managing to keep flour off her shirt.
Wife, Mom and…Grandma!
Ree’s kids (daughters Alex and Paige and sons Bryce and Todd) are all grown up, and as of December 2024, Ree is the proud grandma of the cutest baby ever, Sofia Scott, born to Alex and her husband Mauricio. Ree still cooks for Ladd (and the kids when they’re home), and she also looks after a few mischievous ranch dogs.
