Friday, December 28, 2012

The Christmas Letter



For those who missed the print version:

Based on your longstanding friendship with the David Overly Family, you have been selected to receive a ballot for the 2012 Overly Awards.  (You’re welcome!)  Upon completion, ballots should be returned to us at (home address)*

Best thing about living in Utah (select one):
   For the first time in five years, we didn’t have to pack up and move (hallelujah!)
   We don’t have to deal with airport security to visit family and no one in our minivan cares if the kids are crying
   We can watch LDS General Conference in our pajamas

Best lesson in patience (select one):
   David, for trudging through two more busy seasons at Big Prestigious Company
   Bonnie, for cleaning up after innumerable twin-related disasters
   Bonnie, for teaching Michael how to tie his shoes

Biggest accomplishment of the year (select one):
   Bonnie, for successfully potty-training the twins
   Bonnie, for successfully potty-training the twins
   Bonnie, for successfully potty-training the twins (What, you think someone else should win this one??)

Funniest thing to come out of 6-year-old Michael’s mouth (select one):
   “Mom, I finished cleaning my room!  Don’t look under my bed, okay?”
   Trying to decide between marrying his friend, Samara, or his friend, Clara:  “Mom, can I marry two girls?”
    To dinner guests:  "My dad's been caught by the police three times!"

Best thing about Michael learning to speak French in the language immersion program at school:
   If we are ever stuck in France, Michael will be able to ask where the bathroom is
   We have an excuse to eat more pastries
   We can now sound more intellectual by legitimately using phrases like “joie de vivre” and “soupe du jour”

Most creative disaster concocted by our almost 3-year-old twins, Matthew and Leah (select one):
□  The one where Matthew opened the garage freezer, turned the temperature to “off” and then shut the door, resulting in over $100 of ruined food and Mom spending an hour scraping rotted chicken guts and soggy roll dough off of every shelf
□ The one where Leah and Matthew performed what can only be described as a “spice dance” in the kitchen, using entire jars of cumin, ginger, and red pepper flakes,  and, as a bonus, a bottle of blue food coloring
  The one where Leah and Matthew were caught naked on the bathroom counter, up to their knees in a sink overflowing with soapy water, rubbing a stick of butter all over each other and the mirror

Most difficult disaster to clean (select one):
□  Butter smeared all over the inside of the toaster
White-out painted (and dried) all over the kitchen bar stools
Vaseline smeared on the carpet

Cleaning product which has done the most to ensure the twins’ continued survival (select one):
□ Mr. Clean Magic Erasers
□ Clorox Wipes
□ Little Green Carpet Cleaner

Best Way to Keep In Touch With Us (select all) :
□  Send us an email at (email address)
□ Check our blog: www.overlys.blogspot.com
□ Call us at one of our phone numbers:
     Home:   xxx-xxx-xxxx
     David Cell:  xxx-xxx-xxxx
     Bonnie Cell:  xxx-xxx-xxxx

We Want to Wish You (select all):
□ A Merry Christmas
□ A joyful New Year
     Scales that have been set back ten pounds

*Don’t worry, you don’t actually have to return the ballot (unless you want to, of course - in which case, drop it off in person and stay for a visit!)   

Love, The Overlys

David, Bonnie, Michael, Matthew and Leah

5 comments:

kws said...

This is hilarious. Can I steal this idea for our future Christmas letter? If I ever actually send one out...

Jill said...

Happy New Year! We miss you!

fiona said...

I love your Christmas letters! I was thinking the other day about how Maeve's mischiefs were much tamer than our twins' were. I think it's pretty much a proven fact that twins totally equal about four single toddlers in mischief-making... ;) Maybe five. Those were hilarious and terrible to read! Also, that is an adorable picture of the three rascals! The twins are getting so tall!!

Bonnie said...

Kristen, feel free to steal the idea. Just make sure you send me a copy. :)

Cath said...

As always, we hooted over your letter. Brilliant, witty, need to see you soon! Have we missed our window as tax season is suddenly upon us again??