Oscar winner Sean Penn is putting his career on hold to focus on his family. The actor recently dropped out of an updated version of The Three Stooges and the crime thriller Cartel to take a sabbatical, which some sources say could last as long as a year.

It sounds like a fabulous move to me. His marriage to Robin Wright Penn has been under strain in recent years, with the couple twice filing for divorce, only to halt the proceedings on both occasions, most recently in May.

Sean and Robin have a 12-year-old daughter, Dylan and a 9-year-old son, Jack.

We won’t miss Sean from our screens for some time though. He’s completed the 1950s period piece The Tree of Life, and the Valerie Plame biopic Fair Game, which are both scheduled for release in 2010.

Image source: Flynet

Growing up with seven siblings has inspired Amy Adams to keep her own family with fiance Darren Le Gallo small.

“I didn’t like having seven siblings when I was growing up,” she remembers. “I love it now. But it was just a lot. It was hard to find alone time. Now I see my siblings as often as I can.”

But the Enchanted actress says she does “want to have a family.” She’ll just do it on a much smaller scale than her parents!

“I probably won’t have a big family. I can barely manage my own life! I don’t know how people do it. I give mothers, professional mothers, a lot of credit.”

Don’t we all!

Image source: splashnewsonline.com

It looks like America’s Next Top Model judge Nigel Barker has his hands full! His child carrying methods seem a little unconventional, but they’re sure effective! He’s hoisted his son Jack and a pal over his shoulders, and strapped three-week-old daughter Jasmine to his chest. Nice work Nigel!

The Today show recently caught up with superdad Brad Pitt on the site of his latest New Orleans project Make it Right. Watch the video to see what Brad had to say about his gorgeous family!

Leonardo DiCaprio has enjoyed the glamourous life of a movie star, but now he’s ready to settle down.

“So much of my life has been spent on some far-off movie location and so little of it has been lived normally,” he told The Mirror. “I want to get married and have children.

“I see it all around me and I think things have to naturally take their course. But every friend of mine who has children says the same thing - it’s the greatest thing in the world. So it’s something I’m looking forward to.”

I wonder how long we’ll have to wait until we see some little Leos!

In a recent interview on Oprah, Brad Pitt spilled the beans on his busy family! Watch the video to hear why Shiloh only responds to the names Peter or John, and how his lady love Angelina Jolie keeps all six kids in line!

Their grandparents and parents are actors, but Ben Stiller hopes his children Ella Olivia and Quinlin Dempsey will have “as much of a regular childhood as possible.”

Ben says he’ll be “totally supportive” if his kids follow in his acting footsteps, but he’s not holding his breath.

“My daughter is not that interested in movies. She’d rather be playing with her dolls, which is good. I think that’s healthy. My son sort of gets [show biz] but he’s also more involved with his trains.”

However, the little ones did lend their voices to Ben’s latest film Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, so you never know!

Miley Cyrus‘ Sweet 16 birthday celebrations on Sunday brought out some of our favorite stars and their families. Disneyland was closed to the public, giving the celebs the freedom to go nuts! And best of all, all money raised benefited Youth Service America.

90210 star Jennie Garth was there with husband Peter Facinelli and their girls Fiona Eve, Luca Bella, and Lola Ray.

Cindy Crawford was romanced by Mickey Mouse, much to the amusement of her kids Kaia and Presley!

Click the link to see who else was celebrating!
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Seal and Heidi Klum may have nannies to help them raise Leni, Henry, and little Johan, but Heidi assures us that they’re definitely “hands-on” parents.

The nannies may lend a hand, but the celebrity couple are more than happy to take care of the everyday parenting responsibilities.

“We drive them to school every morning. Leni is … in preschool. Henry has to be potty-trained before they take him in pre-K, and Johan’s turn comes next,” Heidi explained in the latest issue of Parade.

And the transformation of their backyard into kiddie heaven is evidence of their commitment to their growing brood.

“We have a colorful and beautiful backyard with toys all over the place and a pool full of toys and a tennis court covered with tennis balls,” she said.

Sounds like a fun place to live!

It was only last week that I was reminiscing with friends about the songs I used to listen to as a child. We didn’t have The Wiggles in my day, so my Dad used to play me “House on Pooh Corner” by Loggins and Messina and “Alexander Beetle” by Melanie Safka.

So I was thrilled to see some of my favorite celebrity moms and dads have shared their kids’ top tunes with People magazine.

• Melissa Etheridge’s kids Bailey, Beckett, and twins Johnnie Rose and Miller Steven have grown up around music their entire lives. They love “Common Threads” by Bobby McFerrin, Sarah McLachlan’s version of “Rainbow Connection,” “When it Don’t Come Easy” by Patty Griffin, and even a song by their mom, “Message to Myself.” “Really, it’s their fave!” Melissa insists.
• Joey McIntyre and his nine-year-old-son Griffin Thomas enjoy “Goodspeed (Sweet Dreams)” by the Dixie Chicks and “Your Song” by Elton John.
• Max Liron may be just eight months, but Christina Aguilera’s son already has some great music taste. His favorites include “Jamming” by Bob Marley, “Stay Awake” by Julie Andrews and funnily enough, “Relax Max” by Dinah Washington.
• Harlow Winter Kate, the daughter of Nicole Richie and and Joel Madden, loves the classics. Her top picks include “Für Elise” by Ludwig van Beethoven and “Wild World” by Cat Stevens.
• Anthony Keidis’ son Everly Bear rocks just like his dad! His favorite songs include “Spaceship” by Sean Lennon and “Master of Puppets” by Metallica.
• River Samuel, the two-year-old son of Taylor Hanson, loves a bit of everything. His eclectic picks include everything from Believer by Ben Kweller to Black or White by Michael Jackson. Apparently “listening to that [song] is when he really busts a move.”
• Wyatt Steven’s favorite song is naturally one his mother Sheryl Crow wrote called “Song for Wyatt.” He also can’t resist “Elmo’s Song!”

I’d love to know, what songs do your kids love? And what did you listen to when you were little?