While Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were making a glamorous appearance at the Academy Awards, what were their six children doing at home?

"Throwing spaghetti against the wall," Pitt told PEOPLE on the red carpet at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

Which is just fine with two of Sunday night's nominees – Pitt as Best Actor for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and Jolie for Best Actress in Changeling.

"We've been planning on this for months," Pitt joked.

"I like to think of it more as a date," added Jolie. "We're very comfortable tonight and just happy to be out and it's a nice night."