Ben Affleck was back on daddy duty as he picked up his two daughters, Violet, 6, and Seraphina, 3, from school, less than 24 hours after attending a party dressed in a smart grey Tom Ford suit. Dressed casually in jeans and a grey cardigan, the 40-year-old American actor seemed happy to be spending time with his little girls whilst baby Samuel stayed at home with mum Jennifer Garner.Violet looked all grown up in her school uniform, a yellow smock dress over a white polo shirt. Meanwhile, her younger sister Seraphina looked as cute as a button in a striped navy dress with cascading ruffles, white polka dot leggings, and silver Mary Janes.
The father-of-three treated the girls to a fun filled afternoon which included a trip to the park and lunching on hot dogs. Ben seemed to be as entertained as the youngsters, laughing whilst pushing them on the swings.The Argo star's good spirits may also have to do with the fact that he is to receive the Modern Master award from the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the highest honour the event bestows.
Organisers described the 40-year-old as "a multi-dimensional artist" who had "come into his own" with the release of Argo, his third film as director. Based on a true story, the film accounts the secret mission to rescue American diplomats out of Iran in 1979.Its star and director will be honoured on 26 January, 2013 at the Californian city's historic Arlington Theatre. Speaking out about family life, Ben recently admitted that it's his wife Jennifer who does the most when at home. "My wife's very patient. She does everything," he told Details Magazine.
"If I have time, I try to spend time with the kids, even if just to be a physical presence, the bath, whatever. But my mind's always going, 'How are we going to light that shot tomorrow?'"Ben is currently working on his next directing project – a biopic of Boston gangster James 'Whitey' Bulger, played by his best friend Matt Damon. Jennifer, on the other hand, is in talks to reunite with her Ghosts of Girlfriend's Past co-star Matthew McConaughey in The Dallas Buyer's Club. The 40-year-old star replaced Hilary Swank as Dr. Eve Saks in next year's drama about real-life AIDS victim Ron Woodroof. Matthew, who plays the show's protagonist, has already dropped 30 pounds to portray the heterosexual, homophobic electrician who perished in 1992 after illegally smuggling HIV drugs not approved in the States.
