Britney Spears’ visitation schedule was expanded last week after she made a court appearance and was able to show the judge that she was ready to spend more time with her boys. Kevin Federline’s attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, recently said that the relationship between his client and Britney is improved and that they’re getting along better. He was optimistic but guarded in the way he described Britney and Kevin’s relationship, and People quotes him as saying “there will be some contact … there’d be some ability to exchange a camaraderie that is necessary and a function of co-parenting together.”

Was Kaplan just giving a general non-committal answer to a question or was he saying in lawyer-speak that Britney and K-Fed are knocking boots again?

Star Magazine claims that the exes are having phone sex late at night, which would be a follow up to their earlier probably-fake story that K-Fed and Britney shared a kiss during a meeting about their boys.

“[Britney and Kevin] have phone sex often - at least once a week,” says an insider. And while [it] often begins with innocent conversations about matters like their sons… or plans for the future, “The one thing these two have in common is their need for sex, and after they get going, there are no holds barred.”

Typically, Britney makes the first move by calling Kevin. Bit he initiates the titillating chatter, playing on the pop star’s soft spot for sex. “She often contacts Kevin on Monday nights, usually because she’s recovering from a lonely weekend and feeling insecure,” adds the insider.

“He’s used to getting the calls and knows just how to get the sultry talk started.”

[From Star Magazine, print edition, May 19, 2008]

Star claims that Kevin wants to have sex with Britney but that she’s holding back and sticking to phone sex because she’s afraid of what might happen if she falls for K-Fed again.

Federline has probably moved on in his life and isn’t likely to be interested in Britney anymore, but he’s also the type of guy who would easily go back to an ex. It seems like he’s more than just friends with his ex, Shar Jackson, and you can see him being unable to pass up a free refill. If Britney and Kevin do get back together you can bet that a lot more tabloids than Star will be talking about it.

I’ve been reserving judgment, and too scared of turning blue to actually hold my breath, but TMZ is reporting that the weaved wonder, Britney Spears, has actually shown up to her custody hearing this afternoon - on time and without the Brown Boots of Mental Illness. TMZ has the blow by blow report, and sources say that Brit and her slimeball ex, K-Fed, may be close to hammering out a mutual custody agreement out of court.

Britney Spears and Kevin Federline have just entered the courtroom and their case is about to begin.

Brit walked in with her hands clasped in front of her, looking down. Someone told her she looked good and Brit just smiled back. According to all accounts, “Brit looks good.”

Kevin and Britney were both sworn into court. A motion to close the court was granted — so everyone was kicked out. FYI — Elliot Mintz, K-Fed’s attorney’s rep, got the boot too.

The Commish has taken a recess and Brit is out in the hall looking very upset. Our spy says that while Britney isn’t actually crying in the hallway — it looks like she might have been crying inside the closed courtroom.

Mom and Pop Spears are still in the courtroom with Brit’s attorney, as is K-Fed and all his people.

Stay tuned …

UPDATE 10:28 AM PT — Brit is back in the courtroom.

UPDATE 10:38 AM PT — Britney is back out of the courtroom, smiling and holding hands with Blair Berk.

Britney Spears and Kevin Federline (along with all their respective parties) are back in the courtroom after spending close to an hour in a private meeting room.

Brit walked into the courtroom hand-in-hand with her mom Lynne.

Could an amicable compromise be on the horizon?

[Compilated from multiple reports on TMZ]

Whatever happens today, Britney should feel good about the following: 1) She showed up at court, on time, appropriately dressed, and without holding a Fanta and a pack of cigarettes. 2) Thanks to her mom and lawyer, she was able to keep her composure on the stand- which may be a first. 3) The photos and court drawings actually make her look pretty good.

I find it more than a little interesting that this is the first post-Lutfi era court appearance, and Brit shows up with no problems. Jump to your own conclusion- I know I have.

Britney is shown outside the gym on 5/5/08, thanks to WENN.

Star Magazine’s latest cover is all about a supposed reconciliation between Britney Spears and her ex husband and father of her children, Kevin Federline. It reads: “Brit & Kevin’s secret weekend!” and includes an old picture of the two on vacation to make you think they’re back together and happy.

The National Enquirer, which I find more reputable than Star, reported a couple of weeks ago that Britney’s father, Jamie, asked K-Fed during their guys’ golf outing if he would consider reuniting with Britney. Jamie was said to have asked Federline to give his daughter another chance and possibly step in to replace him as conservator of her estate.

Now Star is reporting that they’re about to work things out, given the news that they actually talked.

Britney Spears and Kevin Federline have been at each others’ throats since she filed for divorce in 2006. But a surprising sudden meeting — and plans for a secret getaway together — have family and friends wondering if a rekindled romance is in the works!

“They saw each other on Easter,” a source close to the couple tells Star exclusively.

And that March 23 rendezvous went so well, insiders explain, that Brit and Kevin have agreed to take a trip far from the glare of Hollywood to work on their relationship.

“Kevin wants to take Britney away to see if there is anything to salvage between them,” a family friend tells Star. “When he suggested it to her, she told him she was ready to go anytime he was.”

[From Star Magazine]

I bet all Star knows is that they actually met up, which is something they should do as divorced parents with two children which they both see, and it doesn’t mean they’re about to patch things up. They never seemed to have a real stable relationship in the first place and now that Britney went off the deep end and is gradually working her way back, I don’t really see them getting back together.

K-Fed’s lawyer Mark Kaplan has spoken publicly about Britney’s mental health. He praised her father’s role in helping Britney reclaim some normality in her life, and said “Jamie is doing a really good job. There was a situation and that seems to be stabilized. Does that mean she’s cured? Of course not.”

Britney is said to be possibly making another guest appearance on “How I Met Your Mother” after her previous stint as a receptionist helped bring the show its best ratings ever. There is also speculation that she may get a more permanent ongoing role on a sitcom.

Britney is shown below shopping on Robertson Boulevard yesterday, where she was predictably mobbed. Thanks to WENN. Thanks to Popbytes for the Star Magazine cover.

Kevin Federline seems to be mellowing with age, despite his hard-partying, blunt-smoking reputation. In a recent interview with In Touch, the former back-up dancer says he is trying to stay positive about co-parenting his children with ex-wife Britney Spears despite the drama of the last year.

Kevin Federline and his ex-wife, Britney Spears, have had more than their fair share of bad times. But as he turns 30, Kevin tells In Touch that he’s put his anger behind him — he has become a good father and a caring friend to his exes. “I will always love the mothers of my children, and I will always be there for both of them,” Kevin, who also has two children with his ex-girlfriend Shar Jackson, explains in an exclusive interview with In Touch. “I believe that any good energy I put out there brings more good energy into my own life,” he says. “The relationships with my kids and family will last my whole life and are the most important to me.”

Kevin’s behavior post-split with Spears certainly bears this out- although I’m having a hard time believing that Federline was that articulate, based on his less than stellar vocabulary and voiceover work from the ill-fated reality show, “Chaotic: Britney and Kevin.” But that’s beside the point. K-Fed says that the first year after the divorce, during which Britney had the mother of all breakdowns and was hospitalized twice, was “rough,” but he remained focused on his children throughout that time. Now, he says, he and Spears are in a better place as co-parents are get along better “for the sake of the boys.”

For nearly a year after they separated in November 2006, Kevin and Britney barely spoke. But in recent months, Kevin reveals, they’ve become close again, mainly for Preston and Jayden’s sake. As Britney gets help for her mental issues, she may soon play a more active role in their sons’ lives — and Kevin is glad for that. “It is so very important to me that my children will always know and never question, that no matter what happens, they have a mommy and daddy who love them very much,” he says.

On his long-term goals
Kevin shares, “I’m going to be the best role model for my kids. And if that example helps other young, single dads who might be going through the same experiences that I am right now, it would be a great compliment.”

[From In Touch]

While there is still a slight aroma of douchiness around Kevin, he does deserve credit for giving his children a safe, stable environment amid all the nuttiness of their mother’s lifestyle. The days of seeing those two boys, frightened and helpless in the back of Britney’s convertible, are thankfully long gone. He should also be commended for not giving up on allowing Britney to visit with the boys, even after the much-publicized stand-off with the cops that ultimately got her hospitalized. A lot of custodial parents would have pulled the plug on visitation after a stunt like that, but Kevin gave Britney some time to stabilize, and the supervised visits with the boys seem to be working well for everyone.

As long as Kevin doesn’t try to rap anymore, he’s cool with me.

Britney, K-Fed and Sean Preston in June, 2006
The National Enquirer is claiming that during that K-Fed and Jamie Spears’ golf outing they discussed the issue of whether Federline would step in for Britney’s dad as the conservator of her estate. They also claim that Britney’s dad tried to convince the Fed Ex to reunite with his daughter and get back with her. Since there was a custody hearing after this golf date, everyone assume that Jamie and the Fedex were trying to work out a way to let Britney spend more time with her sons, but it’s possible that they Jamie was also interested in a handover of his daughter’s affairs. The Enquirer focuses on the fact that Britney is going to need mental health treatment for the rest of her life, which would be a potential reason for her dad to want to bail out now:

With Britney Spears likely facing life-long mental health care, her dad Jamie Spears has asked her ex-husband Kevin Federline to reunite with her and assume legal control of her affairs, sources say.

But Kevin is resisting Jamie’s request to relieve him as a conservator of Britney’s estate, according to insiders.

“Jamie is tired, and he’d like Kevin to be involved with Britney’s medical care,” and insider told The Enquirer…

Jamie, 55, has been overseeing [Britney’s] medical care and estate as her court-appointed co-conservator. But his conservatorship expires on July 31 - and he discussed his troubled daughter’s future with Kevin while the two played golf on March 8, the source revealed.

“Jamie knows that Britney has never stopped loving Kevin - and Jamie wants his grandsons to be raised by both their parents,” added the insider.

But 30-year-old Kevin… says he’s too busy raising their sons - Sean, 2, and Jayden, 1, - to look after Britney, too.

“Kevin said he can’t worry about Britney - and worry about his children being around an unstable mother, too. Kevin doesn’t want the burden,” said the insider…

“Kevin told Jamie that he is not in love with Britney anymore - and he can’t get over the fact that Britney slept with some of hsi friends, plus other people he knows in the music business,” added the insider.

“Kevin just doesn’t see how they could ever get back together and make things work.”

[From The National Enquirer, print edition, March 31, 2008]

If all this is true, you can’t blame Britney’s dad for trying - or K-Fed for turning him down flat. Britney is doing better and all, but there isn’t much motivation for Federline to get back together with her. His life has only improved since they’ve split up while Britney’s has obviously been incredibly rough for her and her loved ones. At least she’s sort of back on track now and seems to have her medication stabilized.

According to the March 17 edition of In Touch, she is on just Lithium, Risperdal and Xanax now, which is down from a cocktail that included Ativan, Vicodin, Thorazine and Oxycontin. As to how they would know this, 13 hospital workers were fired for snooping through her records at UCLA medical center. These didn’t include her psychiatric records, but it’s possible that her medications were listed.

Meanwhile Britney’s creepy ex-friend Sam Lutfi is still not out of the picture. He filed papers last week asking that her commissioner case be reassigned to another judge. Lutfi’s restraining order which prevents him from seeing or contacting Britney was extended until April 16, at which point the man who bragged about drugging her food can appear in court to plead his case. He has no lawyer and will be representing himself.

Kevin Federline is being paid a whopping $175,000 to show up at his 30th birthday party at Pure nightclub in Vegas. The guy doesn’t need to get a real job, because he makes more than most of the world does in a couple years by just showing up for one night, making his squinty “I’m taking a shit” face and drinking out of his pimp cup. He doesn’t even have to rap, and will probably just get on the mic to thank everyone for coming.

Multiple sources tell PageSix.com that former Mr. Britney Spears is being paid at least six figures to host his 30th birthday party at the Las Vegas hotspot on March 21. (Check out the invite, above!) One insider says he will make about $175,000.

“Kevin is a big spender, and a draw for the crowds. So the money he gets is nothing compared to the money they make,” the source tells PageSix.com.

The big payday is particularly interesting considering that earlier this week, Britney’s lawyer argued that the pop star shouldn’t have to pay for Kevin’s legal fees because he has more money than he claims.

The family insider tells us that Kevin is planning on spending a few days in Las Vegas, which might give his ex-wife a chance to spend some quality time with their kids.

[From Page Six]

The FedEx owes around 1/2 a million in lawyers fees for his legal team that tries to bill as much as possible while fighting his neverending custody battle with his ex, Britney Spears. Britney is obligated to pay K-Fed’s legal bills, but her team is arguing that he can afford to foot a portion of the bill, given how large he lives.

While Federline is in Vegas Britney will get to see her toddler sons in supervised visits. Federline is said to have been instrumental in working to ensure that she had visitation rights restored once her father stepped in as conservator.

Kevin Federline has a bit part on the Comedy Central animated series “Lil’ Bush” in which he provides the rap stylings of “MC Karl Rove,” a younger fictional version of Bush’s much-maligned former chief of staff and the man responsible for Bush’s presidential campaigns.

Senator Barack Obama said of Rove that:

Karl Rove was an architect of a political strategy that has left the country more divided, the special interests more powerful and the American people more shut out from their government than any time in memory

[From The Washington Post]

Just imagine if this guy was a rapper, though. He’d be about as good at it, and about as self important about his perceived talent, as K-Fed. At least Federline was willing to poke fun at himself, like in his Nationwide commercial.

Meanwhile Federline’s potential turn on Broadway in “Legally Blonde” looks like it’s a no-go. The talks are said to have broken down over money, according to a source quoted by US Magazine.

Britney Spears has not seen her toddler boys, Sean Preston, two and a half, and Jayden James, one and a half, since January 3 after a high-profile standoff with police over handing them over to their father for a scheduled visit. While Britney’s first ex-husband has said that she has confided in him that she does not want full custody or responsibility for the boys, and thinks that she can just have more children later on if she feels the need, she does want to see them. Their father, Kevin Federline, is said to be advocating that Britney should have supervised visitation, always with one of her parent’s present.

There was a custody hearing in Britney’s case yesterday, in which she was represented by a new lawyer because her old firm couldn’t reportedly deal with how uncooperative she was. Lawyers tried to work out an arrangement in which Britney would get some kind of supervised visitation with her children, but TMZ reports that talks fell through and no agreement was reached. That means that, for now, she will not be able to see them. The tabloids reported this week that she does talk to them on the phone, but at that age it’s not much. Maybe she can arrange for K-Fed to set up a webcam so she can see them at least, if she wants to.

Britney has been under her father’s supervision by court order, and has hired a new lawyer to help her fight her dad’s conservatorship, claiming that it violates her civil rights. She is trying to get her conservatorship case moved from LA County to Federal court. Her new lawyer, who may not be recognized by the court because she technically doesn’t have the right to hire her own attorney as that is reserved for her conservator, says that “These are issues of confinement. Very serious confinement. Not allowed to contact her friends. Not allowed to use the phone. Not allowed to come and go as you please. Bodyguards controlling you and so forth.”

Britney looks like she’s doing moderately better, and was seen going out for sushi on Monday night. She even gave the paps a crotch shot, just like the old days.

I don’t know what the solution could be for this woman other than being cared for by her father until she is stable enough to take baby steps on her own. She doesn’t seem able to care for herself, and she was the victim of someone who was drugging her food, denying access to her cars and phones, and by some accounts stealing her money. Now her father is making sure that she stays safe and isn’t taken advantage of, and that requires some confinement. She’s not mentally stable, so it seems like her options are continuing to have someone monitor her, or going to a mental hospital. If she gets full control of her affairs back at this point it doesn’t seem like it would bode well for her.

Britney is shown out for sushi on Monday night. I’ll spare you more crotch shots, but she definitely wasn’t wearing flesh-colored panties.

In his first public appearance since the latest 5150 hold on his ex wife, K-Fed will be attending the Marc Jacobs fashion show in New York City today. Because, when you think of well-dressed, fashionable men, your mind just automatically thinks of Kevin Federline.

Kevin Federline is attending Marc Jacobs’ fashion show Friday, his rep tells Usmagazine.com.

Asked if he also will be performing, his rep says, “He’s just attending the show. He got invited by Marc.”

Federline, 29, is no stranger to the fashion world. While wed to Britney Spears, he told Details in 2005 that they wanted to co-launch a label called Pair A Dice “because dice are lucky for us.

“I’ve got a lot of good ideas about fashion that I want to put out there,” he said at the time.

The former back-up dancer has also appeared in ads for the Five Star Vintage line by the San Francisco-based Blue Marlin clothing company.

[From Us Weekly]

“Pair A Dice” fashions. How did I ever miss that gem? I can see it now: a whole line of Cheeto-stained trucker caps, designer lighters, pit-stained tank tops and hoochie shorts. Fabulous!

Anyway, K-Fed has kept a pretty low profile since the first Britney meltdown, and has only been photographed once since her admittance to UCLA Medical Center– smoking a cigarette on the balcony of the home he shares with his children with Spears. Sources have said that Kevin remains “worried” about the mother of his children, although he has not issued a statement on the matter. Just after her commital, this report surfaced:

Federline “doesn’t want [Britney] to get out [of the hospital] until she’s made progress,” the source close to Federline says. “This is obviously going to help her in the end – later, much later.”

The source adds: “He’s worried. … He doesn’t even know what’s going to happen next.”

Federline, 29, was not directly involved in the latest events, “but he was aware of what was happening,” says another source, a friend of Federline’s.

Unlike the first time Spears was sent to the hospital, the children were with Federline, the friend says.

“Kevin legitimately wants Britney to get better. He wants her to be in their sons’ lives. He wants them to have a loving relationship. He wants her to get healthy so she can be the mother they need and deserve,” says the friend.

[From People]

Wonder what he thinks of Britney being on the loose again?

Picture note by Celebitchy: Here’s K-Fed not looking high or anything on New Year’s eve at LAX Nightclub, thanks to PRPhotos.

Britney Spears has given her 16 year-old knocked up sister some seemingly good advice. She told her not to marry her baby’s father and end up like her.

Britney’s mom is said to have made sure that she didn’t hear about Jamie Lynn’s pregnancy before the press did because Britney has a big mouth and she was worried that the news would get out. That sounds like a legitimate concern considering that she’s dating a paparazzo:

“Whatever you do, do not get married! You are too young and you will ruin your life! Do not make a mistake and end up like me!”

That’s the shocking advice Britney Spears has given her little sister Jamie Lynn, who’s 16 and pregnant, the Enquirer has learned exclusively.

Now a single mom with two young boys, Britney is desperately worried about her sister’s future - and livid with her mother for keeping Jamie Lynn’s pregnancy a secret from her, sources say…

“Her mom Lynne didn’t tell [Britney] Jamie Lynn was expecting because she was afraid Britney would leak the news - or that she’d tell one of her friends who’d let the story get out.”

Frantic, Britney tracked Jamie Lynn down at Lynne’s home in Kentwood, LA - and the two sisters broke down in tears.

“When she got Jamie Lynn on the phone, Britney started to cry, and so did Jamie Lynn,” said the source.

“Britney told her ‘Do not marry Casey. Look at the position I’m in.’

“She told Jamie Lynn that she’ll always be there for her - and when she’s ‘had it’ with Lynne, Jamie Lynn can come live with her.”

[From The National Enquirer, print edition, January 7, 2008]

That’s ripe coming from Britney. It’s as if she blames Kevin for the fact that she can’t be bothered to spend time with her sons and/or hire a qualified nanny. She would be a lousy mom even if she was still married and at least the divorce helped Kevin step up to the plate, joint in hand or not.

Kevin is said to have also offered his support to Jamie Lynn. OK! Magazine reports that he thinks of her as a little sister and that “he just wants to be part of the support system.” He’s sure getting a lot of good press for a failed wannabe rapper that recently slept with Paris Hilton.

It seems like Jamie Lynn is going to have a troubled life whether she choses to get married or not. If she doesn’t want to end up like Britney she’s better off not talking to her much.

Header image is of Britney and Jamie Lynn together in October when a woman was harassing them. Thanks to WENN. Amazingly, there are no new photos of Britney today, but it’s still early. Give it a couple of hours.