It’s the most wonderful time of the year in Waco. This week’s edition of What to Do in Waco is chock-full of holiday activities that will spark your Christmas spirit. To counter the stress and studying of finals, step out of the library and into these local happenings, transporting you to a winter wonderland of fun.

Real families have issues. They have tense meals and strained relationships. Being at school doesn’t fix those things; it just helps us forget about them. Regardless of the issues, our families are still our families. And what’s a better time to express our love for them than the holidays?

This holiday season, let’s try and change the conversation to something beyond how many pounds we’ve lost or gained. Shifting the focus onto other things can not only be for you, but also for other people in the room who don’t know how to speak up.

On Dec. 10 at the Martin Museum of Art, a new exhibition titled “400 Degreez: The Act of Making Nothing Out of Something” will open featuring artist Vitus Shell. The exhibition will include work from his “Gold Everything” series and will also serve as a guided tour for CAE credit.