> At a Glance
> – Ree Drummond posted 20 childhood-to-motherhood photos on Instagram for her 57th birthday.
> – She believed the images “were lost forever” before rediscovering an old box.
> – The gallery shows toddler shots, ballet days, prom, wedding, and newborn moments.
> – Why it matters: Fans see a rare, decades-spanning look at the Food Network star’s life beyond the ranch.
Ree Drummond rang in her 57th birthday on January 6 by unearthing a dusty box of memories she feared had vanished. The Food Network host shared the nostalgic images in a single Instagram carousel that quickly lit up comments from family and followers.
From Bubble-Blowing Toddler to New Mom
The 20-photo set opens with black-and-white shots of toddler Ree blowing bubbles and grinning with a gap-toothed smile alongside younger sister Betsy. Viewers then scroll through:
- A school picture featuring a “grown-out bowl cut”
- Behind-the-scenes dressing-room moments before dancing in The Nutcracker
- A prom portrait in a quintessential 1980s pink, flouncy gown
- Wedding-day dance frames with husband Ladd Drummond from 1996
- A tender snapshot of Ree cradling one of her five children as a newborn
> “I found an old box of photos I thought were lost forever,” she wrote on Instagram Stories the day before the post. “I’m not doing well!!”
Memory Lane With a Side of Humor
The cookbook author paired the images with a self-deprecating caption about her uncanny recall of childhood details. She joked that she could still list every guest at her sixth birthday party and describe what her mom wore-then quipped that this gift for minutiae is precisely “why I can’t remember why I just walked into the living room a few minutes ago.”
Family & Fans React
Daughters Alex Drummond Scott and Paige Drummond Andersen chimed in with birthday love, while commenters marveled at the family resemblance.
> “Seeing these photos of you as a child, Paige is your TWIN!!” one follower wrote. Another added, “Well, there’s no wonder why you’ve got such gorgeous kids that look SO much like you.”
Key Takeaways
- Ree’s photo dump offers fans a rare, decades-spanning glimpse into her off-camera life.
- The discovery highlights how quickly personal history can feel lost-and how joyful its recovery can be.
- Commenters focused on the strong Drummond genes, especially between Ree and daughter Paige.
The birthday post proves that even a Pioneer Woman can get pleasantly blindsided by her own past.
