Reading Automatic Transmission Fluid Level

This is pretty basic; sorry for a pretty lame question! I'm trying to check the automatic transmission fluid level. The diagram and instructions in the manual are quite clear. I start the car, move the gearshift throughout the gears, leave it in neutral, and clean the dipstick and reinsert it. Unfortunately, when I pull the dipstick, there is too much fluid along the sides of the dipstick to get a clear reading; the fluid goes above the holes, while the holes themselves are empty. How do you read this?