Every family has something unique about them. Something that others might find strange but you find completely fulfilling. What is that for your family? Today I’m spilling the beans and sharing one of our own little quirks. Would you think I was crazy if I told you my family spent our Saturday stalking a social media account, waiting for a photo to be dropped on Twitter? The photo revealing where a special addition football helmet is hidden in our town so we could compete in a race to get to it? What if I told you this wasn’t even our first time doing this?

I’ve mentioned our family passion for BYU sports before. My husband has been a fan since he was a kid, and it’s rubbed off on the rest of us. My daughter’s dreams of being BYU Cheerleader some day is evident on her dream board. We watch every football game together no matter how late, or how bad the season is, and get decked out for each and every one. So what I’m basically trying to say is, any chance we have to dress up and participate in something related to our favorite collegiate team, we’re in.

We all got dressed up Saturday morning, knowing the drop would happen some time that day. Last year we missed winning by mere minutes and we were hopeful to do better this year.

We stopped at Shell and filled up, and grabbed snacks for the road and got discounts using our Fuel Rewards® card (you can get yours here, it’s free, just takes a minute to sign up, and saves you moolah!). We’d be driving around town near possible landmark drop spots and we wanted to be ready.

I keep saying we are super fans but it’s not like we were chanting the BYU fight song during all of this. My sister was actually visiting from college (yes, that one) so she came with us. We debated where the helmet might be and tried to make up a strategy for getting it. Maybe dropping off a couple people in a few different locations and just having whoever was closest run that direction.

Just as we were pulling downtown I refreshed my twitter feed and there the helmet was, hanging on a popular statue near the lake.

My husband knew exactly how to get there and the kids joked that they wished we could take advantage of some of daddy’s lights and sirens right now because Austin traffic was a nightmare. Though we weren’t far from the prize, traffic set us back. When we were still a couple minutes away I refreshed the feed again and saw that someone had beat us to it. Again.

All of us were disappointed but my daughter was really ticked. Her competitive spirit totally got the best of her, and it took her a little bit to cheer up again.

We did get a consolation prize of a couple of free t-shirts and we did make it in the group photo where my daughter is making a total sour face.

My husband told the kids we could buy a helmet like that if they really wanted, but I think it was the losing the contest that bummed them out more than the actual prize (by them, I mean Lil’ J, Big T really could have cared less).

We were already out and at this beautiful park space in front of Lake Austin and the backdrop of downtown AND I had my sister there so I was basically in heaven knowing we could get a couple new family pictures, which ended up being my consolation prize.

Not exactly ones for the Christmas card. We’re all in Cougar gear, hot from walking around and a little disappointed from a loss. But the images so perfectly capture who we are, having fun just doing our thing.

We don’t need to go far or spend a lot to have a good time, we just need each other, and maybe a bit of blue.

What is a tradition you do that is special to your family? I’d love to hear it!

And remember to try your Fuel Rewards card to save while you’re doing what you love. Make sure you send your referral link to friends and family so they can join the Fuel Rewards program too. Then, the first time a friend uses the program by earning a reward or using their card at a participating Shell station, after registering using your referral link, you will instantly earn 25¢/gal (up to 20 gal). There’s no limit to how many friends you invite or how many times you earn!

I love partnering with brands that help us make meaningful memories together as a family. That is why I have teamed up with Shell for this post. Of course all opinions are my own.

*Restrictions apply. To qualify for the Gold/Silver Status offers, you must be a Fuel Rewards^® member and swipe your Fuel Rewards^® card or enter your Alt ID when you fuel at a participating Shell station. With Gold Status, you will receive 5¢/gal in Fuel Rewards^® savings on every fill-up. The 5¢/gal reward for Gold Status will be combined with other rewards in your Fuel Rewards^® account. If you are an existing Fuel Rewards^® member, you will receive Gold Status from 6/5/2017 through 12/31/17, the “Existing Member Introductory Period”. If you are a new Fuel Rewards^® member, you will receive Gold Status for the initial month you join through the last day of the month, 6 full calendar months later, the “New Member Introductory Period”. The last 3 months of the Existing Member Introductory Period or the New Member Introductory Period (collectively the “Introductory Period”) is the “Qualification Period”. You will retain your Gold Status during the Qualification Period, but you must make 6 qualifying fuel purchases to qualify for Gold Status for the next 3 months, the “Benefit Period”. During the Benefit Period, you must continue to make 6 qualifying fuel purchases to maintain your Gold Status for the next 3-month Benefit Period. A qualifying fuel purchase is any fuel purchase at a participating Shell station in which you swipe your Fuel Rewards^® card or enter your Alt ID and fill up with at least 5-gallons of any grade of fuel. For example, if you are a new Fuel Rewards^® member and register on 6/15/2017, you will receive Gold Status through the New Member Introductory Period (i.e., 12/31/2017). You will need to fill up with at least 5 gallons of fuel at least 6 times during the Qualification Period (i.e., 10/1/2017 and 12/31/2017) to maintain Gold Status during the Benefit Period (i.e., from 1/1/2018 to 3/31/2018). Thereafter, if you continue to fill up with at least 5 gallons of fuel at least 6 times during the successive 3 consecutive month Benefit Periods, you will retain your Gold Status. If you do not maintain your Gold Status, you will receive Silver Status. With Silver Status, you will receive 3¢/gal in Fuel Rewards^® savings. The 3¢/gal reward for Silver Status will be combined with other rewards in your Fuel Rewards^® account. Redeem Fuel Rewards^® savings with your Fuel Rewards^® card or Alt ID at participating Shell stations. Fuel Rewards^® savings are limited to 20 gallons of fuel per purchase, per vehicle, or fraud limits placed by Shell and/or limits placed on your financial card by your financial institution, each of which may be lower. Fuel Rewards^® savings must be redeemed in a single transaction. Once you begin to dispense fuel using your Fuel Rewards^® savings, you must dispense to the 20-gallon limit or you forfeit any remaining discounted gallons of fuel. For example, if you only pump fifteen (15) gallons of fuel, you would abandon the remaining five (5) gallons of discounted fuel. If you have a rewards balance greater than the current per-gallon price of fuel, the price will roll down to the maximum capability of the fuel equipment, and your remaining rewards will be saved for a future fuel purchase. Dispenser may require a price of up to 10.9¢/gal. It may not be possible to combine multiple discounts and/or rewards in a single transaction. For purchases of $75 or more, please go inside to pay. Unbranded diesel and alternative fuels may not be eligible. The Fuel Rewards^® program is owned and operated by Excentus Corporation. Offer may be modified or discontinued at any time without notice. Not valid where prohibited by law. Please see fuelrewards.com for complete Fuel Rewards^® program details and Terms and Conditions. Other restrictions may apply. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. To learn more, visit fuelrewards.com/gold or call (888) 603-0473.

Tags: ad, byu, byu football, Shell