Ben Affleck-Jennifer Garner Update: Party For Kids Amid Divorce Whispers

By R. Siva Kumar - 13 Jun '15 14:56PM

There was a schoolyear-end party for the three children of Ben Affleck and wife Jennifer Garner. The children were Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, according to designtrend.

The party at Los Angeles last Tuesday had the two looking strong and cheerful, although their marriage is rumoured to be on the doldrums. "Jen decorated with balloons and set up a party in the backyard," said a visitor. "Violet's friends' moms were invited, too," according to people.

The following day, Affleck and Garner were spotted at Violet's school and then at the Brentwood Country Mart to select toys for their children. They bought some art supplies, a game and a sticker book that Seraphina chose for Violet.

"Jen and Ben were really focused on Seraphina," the source added. "And she was loud and happy."

The 43-year-old Garner and 42-year-old Affleck are running to consult divorce lawyers. As Garner had delayed picking up the children from school by 40 minutes, according to reports, Jennifer felt that he showed "parental incompetence", so she is fighting for sole custody. She "had to scramble to arrange another ride for them," said one more friend.

"And when he did finally show up, she heard he smelled of booze and cigarettes," the insider added. "She's been consulting with a high-profile divorce lawyer. She doesn't trust Ben alone with the kids. Custody is not negotiable."

However, Ben has rounded his own string of lawyers, and wants the custody. "Ben and his team have definitely been engaging divorce attorneys. He's positioning for a divorce ... Right now, it's just coming up with a strategy and whether or not it makes sense for Ben to do it quietly and jointly so there is no battle, or to do it on his own."

The couple's friends just shrug at their divorce rumours. "Often, when Ben and Jen have a problem, they just agree to ride it out and be miserable together until they can get some time apart," a source told OK! magazine. "Jennifer has close friends who think that she and Ben are a horrible fit, despite how much he loves being a father to those kids."