How cute are these photos? Yesterday, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie took the Empress, Shiloh, and the twins to a puppet show in England. The show is called “the Puppet Theatre Barge” which takes place literally on a barge on the Thames. From the stuffed animals the kids are holding, my guess is that part of the puppet show involves dinosaurs, right?

Anyway, these are some of the first photos of Vivienne where I didn’t feel like she was on a cusp of a major hissy. I’ve always said that about Viv – she just has one of those faces where she always looks like she’s about to break out in an earth-shattering wail. But now she’s a big girl, and her mom even let her walk on her own, and she looks happier – Brad is carrying Knox, who definitely seems like the more easy-going twin. I think Knox looks a hell of a lot like Brad, don’t you? Although Knox’s hair looks like it’s got some ginger to it. I swear, Knox is going to end up looking like Michael Fassbender. And that’s going to be awesome.

Thoughts on Vivienne’s oufit? She seems to like more girlish ensembles – at her age, Shiloh was already dressing like a tomboy, so at least we’re going to be spared tabloid covers about how Vivienne is 3-year-old lesbian, because she wears dockers and likes to play rough with her brothers. I like Viv’s little Mary Janes! So cute.

The Empress! Such a face.

Photos courtesy of Fame.

Empress Zahara is already on the phone with her attorneys, don’t worry. Star Magazine, acting on a nine-month-old National Enquirer story that was pretty much identical, claims in a round-about way that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s youngest children, twins Knox and Vivienne, have Down Syndrome. The proof? Well, there is none. According to Jezebel’s synposis, Star just points out there is “speculation” and an insider says that the twins “are taking longer to grasp things.” Oh, and while the family visited Brad’s family over New Year’s, random Missourians “wondered if there was something wrong with the twins. It just seemed like something was off.” A source also says that “An employee recently voiced concerns, and Angelina freaked out.”

So… instead of even pretending this is anything other than a horrible (and unoriginal) tabloid piece of crap, let’s talk about whether or not Angelina and Brad (and the Empress) should sue. I think they should – for once, send the message to the tabloids that all of this nasty speculation about the kids is beyond the realm of acceptability. Of course, Angelina and Brad didn’t sue when the Enquirer reported an identical story last year, nor did they sue when Life & Style ran repeated Shiloh-is-a-lesbian-because-she-wears-pants covers. Do they just think that if they ignore it, this too shall pass? Or do they figure that the public backlash against these tabloids will be enough? I don’t know, I honestly don’t. I do know that Fax Cannes “Mystery” Jolie-Pitt is dyslexic, though. And it’s nothing to be ashamed of.

Photos courtesy of Fame and WENN.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt brought out the twins! By the way, did you know The Tourist opens on Friday? Yeah, it’s a little obvious. But I love when the twins come out, so I’m not complaining. The family Jolie-Pitt are back stateside, and last night they took the twins out to an art supply store in New York City. Angelina held the chubby-cheeked (squishy!) Vivienne, and Brad is holding Knox, I believe. I also believe is was Knox who got to go out in the snow with Angelina last week. Or hey, maybe it’s still Fax Cannes. God knows. Viv is a shy little thing, and this is one of the better shots of her:

Meanwhile, Knox seems less reticent – he also looks a lot like Shiloh, I think.

More pics of all that is holy:

Ugh, I was really hoping to ignore this story, but whatever. The National Enquirer’s cover story this week is about whether Brad and Angelina’s twins have Down Syndrome. We haven’t been able to read the full cover story yet, so the Enquirer’s reporting is drawn from other sources. Apparently, the Enquirer reports that Knox and Vivienne are “battling secret health issues and MAY even have Down Syndrome.” The Enquirer prints the speculation without any kind of confirmation. Babble does have this however:

The newest issue of National Enquirer shouts: “Twins Health Shocker! Tragic Down Syndrome Reports Surrounding Vivienne & Knox.”

That’s a really heavy claim. Is there any truth?

Let’s take a look inside at the facts.

Well, there are none. Several commenters on the Internet believe that the children look like they have DS.

“They hate that their kids are under such intense observation. It’s very difficult for them to deal with. As far as their concerned, Knox and Vivienne are perfect. Brad and Angie aren’t the type to sweep sensitive issues under the carpet,” a friend of the couple says.

“The twins are healthy, but if there were medical problems with them, I think Brad and Angie would subtly try to destigmatize the issue by not hiding them.”

I agree. Angelina and Brad are both outspoken about issues that concern them, so it’s likely that if the twins or any of their children were suffering a disease they wouldn’t hide it.

[From Babble Blogs]

Yes, I think they would have said something too, if there were health problems or if the twins had Down Syndrome. Much like the Shiloh-is-a-lesbian-because-of-her-hair speculation, I just wish the tabloids and the frothing-at-the-mouth Brangelina-haters would take a moment and just realize that this kind of wild, asinine speculation about children blows. It’s nasty, it’s horrible, and it should end.

And not to put too fine a point on this, I think what some people see as “Down Syndrome” is really just the twins’ genetic predispositions for Brad’s open-mouthed, dumb expressions.

Enquirer cover courtesy of Johnny Nikon.

Here are some new photos of Angelina and the twins out on the balcony with Brad’s mom Jane. Jane seems pretty absorbed in pointing something out to Knox, while Vivienne seems to always be in a state of pre-tantrum. Perhaps the sun is in her eyes? All I know is that she seems to have to that “3 seconds to go from quiet to blood-curdling scream” look on her face. I know babies. That baby is a wailer. By the by, you know that Star Mag story from this morning about Angelina being knocked up? “Totally false,” says some random “source” to >People Magazine. Shocking!

Since I’m in a foul mood, let’s have a little fun captioning these photos. Here we go:

Angelina: “Baby doll, this is how you make a shank eye. I learned it from Empress Zahara.”

Jane: “Angelina, whose handcuffs are these?”

Vivienne: “Mama, why do I have a mullet? I don’t want the business up front and the party in the back.”

Vivienne: “WTF? I have to wear black and grey FOREVER?!?”

Vivienne: “Hahaha, GerBILL. I get it.”

Angelina, Jane Pitt and the twins in Venice on April 14, 2010. Credit: INFphoto.com.

It’s time for another exciting round of “Where in the world are the Jolie-Pitts?” As it turns out, they split up over the weekend. According to Radar (photo here), Brad, Angelina and the four older kids went to France for the weekend while they left twins Knox and Viv in the care of Brad’s parents, Bill and Jane. Bill even took Knox out on the balcony of the Venice home the Jolie-Pitts are renting (photos above). Knox must really enjoy that balcony, because he manages to get everyone out there. Last Friday Knox got his mom and his stuffed rabbit out on the balcony, and Knox gave everyone a show by dramatically tossing the bunny off the balcony, in a series of hilarious photos. Here’s more from Us Weekly:

Apparently there’s room for a few more guests at the $6.8 million Jolie-Pitt palazzo in Venice. Introducing…Grandpa Pitt!

William and Jane Pitt touched down in Venice, Italy last week to visit with their son Brad, his love Angelina Jolie and their six kids.

Over the weekend, however, Pitt’s parents were apparently on babysitting duty: as attested by photos at Radaronline, Jolie and Pitt took Shiloh, 3, Maddox, 8, Zahara, 4, and Pax, 6, for a quick trip to the south of France while twins Vivienne and Knox, 20 months, stayed behind.

On Sunday, William and Knox headed out onto one of the clan’s favorite spots in the palace: the scenic balcony overlooking Venice’s Grand Canal.

Knox wore a black hoodie and clutched a blankie as he showed his grandfather the sites.

In February, Jolie’s father, actor Jon Voight, also visited with the family in the ancient Italian city. Voight, 71 and Jolie, 34, had recently reconciled after a 7-year rift.

“It’s nice to have something that’s positive!” Voight, 71, told UsMagazine.com of getting back together with his once-estranged daughter. He says their boat ride down the ancient city’s Grand Canal was “lovely…the weather wasn’t so bad for the journey. It’s a very beautiful trip. A lot of fun.”

[From Us Weekly]

I think it’s funny that Brad and Angelina left the twins in the care of Brad’s parents for a whole weekend. They were probably like, “You wanted grandkids, here you go, they need a diaper change, buh-bye.” Maybe Angelina doesn’t want to spend time with Brad’s parents? I’m sure that’s a common theory, that Angelina and the Pitts have never gotten along, but I don’t buy it. I think they probably get along okay – not really, really well, but they make nice. I’m sure I know what In Touch Weekly’s spin on this is going to be – “Jane Pitt flies to Venice to convince her son to go back to her favorite daughter-in-law ever, JEN!” Wait for it.

Here are some older photos on the Jolie-Pitt gang:

Bill and Knox on the balcony in Venice on April 11, 2010. Credit: Pacific Coast News.

Here are the Jolie-Pitts in Venice for Easter. I was thinking that this was the whole Jolie-Pitt brood, but it’s not. Shiloh is missing, and Pax is missing. But the twins are out, as are Maddox and the Empress Zahara, wearing a stylish blue cardigan. The Empress does not look amused. Something pissed her off. Perhaps she didn’t get what she wanted in her Easter basket (Cadbury eggs and world domination)?

And yes, Brad still hasn’t trimmed or shaved that beard, and yes, he looks like the Unabomber, especially with those sunglasses and knit cap. Mr. and Mrs. Smith was on last night, and I watched it for a few minutes, having forgotten what Brad’s old clean-shaven face looked like. Do you think Knox (who Brad is carrying) will end up looking like his dad? I can’t tell. Out of all of the biological kids, Shiloh still looks the most like her father to me.

Angelina is carrying Vivienne, who looks upset again. Viv looks the most like Angelina, I think. But you really can’t tell from these photos.

UPDATE: Okay, Shiloh and Pax could have been around too, but none of the agencies we have access to have any photos of Shiloh or Pax, so whatever. It really isn’t a big deal.

Jolie-Pitts in Italy on April 4, 2010. Credit: WENN.

Oh no! Angelina Jolie finally brought out both Vivienne and Knox for a little time on the balcony, and Vivienne had herself a little tantrum! Perhaps Vivienne didn’t want to go on the balcony in the arms of her nanny? She just wanted to be held by her mom? Could be. She calmed down considerably when she got into her mama’s arms.

First, this makes me think that Knox is the more “chill” baby, considering his face his all “whatever, Viv, take it down a notch” during his sister’s tantrum. Maybe that’s why Knox/Mystery/Fax was the one to get all of that awesome balcony time with his mom over the past two days. And you hardcore Brangeloonies were right, you can tell Knox and Viv apart. But I can only do it when I can see their hair, otherwise I’m still totally confused. Viv does have very blonde hair, where Knox has a hint of ginger in his dirty blonde/pale brown hair. Oh, Viv is in white over black, and Knox is just in black, or course. Because black clothes get issued to Jolie-Pitts at birth. It’s the Jolie-Pitt signature color.

You can tell just by looking at these photos that Viv is a wailer. My uterus just closed up shop, because you know Viv got all pitchy screaming “MAAA-MMMAAAA!!!” LaineyGossip warns: “A Holy Twin wept. Just… be extra cautious while you’re out and about today. You know.”

Angelina and the twins (and a nanny?) out on the balcony in Venice on March 26, 2010. Credit: WENN and INFphoto.com

Fame Pictures describes this set of photos as “Actress Angelina Jolie enjoyed spending some time with her little ones while on break from shooting “The Tourist” in Rome, Italy on March 24, 2010. Angelina and little Knox Jolie-Pitt took a moment to enjoy the view from their balcony with big sister Shiloh Jolie-Pitt popping in and out.”

How do we know it’s Knox again? I mean, Knox is my guess too, but I’m not sure, and we’ve been wrong before. The last time I posted photos of Knox, he was wearing a jaunty leather jacket and making an “I’ll shank you” look to the paps. I’m honestly thinking this kid might be Vivienne. Or Mystery Jolie-Pitt (aka Fax Jolie-Pitt) is making another cryptic appearance. Or is she switching them from photo to photo? Damn it, Angelina!

Angelina looks totally wrecked. Nap time, Angie, please.

Oh, there’s Shiloh! She’s checking out Venice from behind the banister. She’s all, “I got mah donut, bitches!”

Mystery!

Angelina and one or more of her children (who knows?) on March 24, 2010. Credit: AAR/Fame Pictures.

The note on INF reads: “With filming for the movie ‘The Tourist’ delayed due to strike action across Italy, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and their two twins, Vivienne and Knox, visit the Gritti Palace Hotel in Venice, Italy.” So I guess Angelina had the day off so she and Brad took the twins sight-seeing. And the paparazzi got some really tight close-ups of twins Knox and Vivienne, and they are walking! Why is this shocking to me? I have no idea. I mean, they’re old enough at 18 months, but I’ve just never seen their little feet hit the ground. Sidenote: I spy silkies!

They’ve gotten so big you can actually see the little twinge of personality in them, like when we saw a then 1-year-old Zahara throw the paparazzi a “WTF, douche?” look for the first time. Just judging them solely by the photos, I’d say that Vivienne isn’t going to be a little tomboy like Shiloh. I think she’s going to be more like Zahara, a little girly-girl.

As for Knox? Look at his hardcore little face! He looks so much like his dad, he’s even dressed in a little Inglourious Basterds-era leather jacket. Knox has so much style!

Brangelina & the twins in Venice on March 12, 2010. Credit: INFphoto.com.