Cool Countdown Calendars

"How many days until Christmas?" My kids ask this question every day of December. It's as predictable as the "are we there yet" syndrome on a long drive. Yet looking forward is half the fun, especially when they can channel their excitement by marking the days in a hands-on way. The following easy-to-make countdown calendars--which range from a stand-up snowman to a candy garland--celebrate each day leading up to the big event, whether it's Christmas, New Year's, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or the day Grandma and Grandpa arrive from out of town. They may not make the holidays arrive any sooner, but they will make the wait a lot sweeter.