Jennifer Garner doesn’t have any films coming out for the rest of the year. Instead, she seems to be stuck in New York City on the neverending film shoot for the Arthur remake, in which I think Garner is playing the Liza Minnelli part (BOO!). Ben Affleck has also been in NYC, probably preparing for the promotional tour for The Town, which comes out in a few weeks (YAY!).
Anyway, it seems that Jennifer had a free day, so she decided to get some one-on-one time with her oldest daughter Violet. Jen took Violet for a carriage ride! So sweet. I’ve always wanted to go for a carriage ride in NYC. I feel for the horses, though, even if I don’t subscribe to the PETA anti-carriage-horse position. I guess it just makes me feel icky to think of tough New York horses having to compete with traffic. But I digress…it looks like Violet is having an awesome time with her mom, and the horse isn’t kicking anybody, so whatever.
Just a question though – even though I do believe that carriage rides should be for everyone, and it’s really cool to have a mom who wants to take you on a carriage ride, don’t you think this kind of sweet activity is the kind of romantic gesture Jennifer probably wants out of Ben? Right?
Cuteness!!
Adorable but the horsedrawn carriage rides are a nono. Those horses are typically not treated well.
where is daddy?
Awwww. A little bit photo-oppy but cute.
And why so many “candid” photo ops of this mom and her kids??
Seriously, overwhelming sweetness and cuteness. She seems to be the most down-to-earth celebrity mom ever. Maybe it’s weird, but I find that admirable.
She seems like such a great mom. Little Violet is so cute, too!
Violet is so cute. I do wonder though if her real life married life is starting to mirror (somewhat) her married life in Juno.
You know, out of all the celebs out there, I like that Jenn is doing stuff with their kids. Most of the time, celebrities’ kids are being carried by nannies and other staff. While I don’t doubt that they have help, she sure seems to be involved in their lives and I have to admit, it makes me like her more! Yay for well adjusted kids! (Fingers crossed!)
Actually, I think it would be more fun to take a carriage ride with my daughter than husband. After 10 minutes he and I would be like “this is so cheesy, get me outta here” but a child would love it and that would be so fun to watch and experience!
Violet (& Sera) are lucky little kids.
I suppose the paps were chasing them the whole time they were on the ride. I have heard about these poor horses. They are subject to extreme noise and exhaust pollution for many hours a day. It is very stressful for them and bad for their health. Also, they’re “supposed” to be taken off the streets once temps reach 90 degrees. So even in 80 plus degree heat they’re still slogging along. Poor things.
Is it weird that I think Violet looks like a mini Anna Paquin?
she looks like an incredibly happy mom with a deliriously content child. That said, the horse-drawn carriage thing is nothing other than tragic, and anyone that supports, condones, or promotes it should be saddled up to a carriage themselves and see how they like it. It’s truly a horrifying artifact of another era that should have been outlawed decades ago.
Very cute. I like Jennifer Garner but I have to admit that I never watch her films. I thought that she was perfectly cast in Alias, where she did a lot of her own stunts because she had the professional training before Alias.
There was a rumor going around awhile back that Ben was interested in a possible political career. I wonder whether that’s going to ever go anywhere. If so, Garner would make a perfect politician’s wife and the kids would be perfect as well.
Awww, Violet seems to adore her mom and vice versa. But the poor horses – that would spoil any fun for me.
So cute!
they’ve always looked so happy together.
These are great photos. Fun mom!
why so many candids with Garner and her kids?
awww looks like Violet got to see Mary Poppins on Broadway. Jen seems to be a great down to earth mom!
I think of all celebrity moms Garner is the one most frequently photographed actually spending time with her own children, and it seems often without a bunch of nannies. Cute kids, too.
I think the horses in NYC are mistreated, but I took a horse carriage ride on Mackinac Island and it was amazing. The horses get treated better then the working people.
They look happy but all I can say is yet another photo op from Jen and her kids. If she was not photographed daily with her kids no one would pay any attention to her. like some one one said said they like her but never watch her films. I all ways found it funny that you always see Jennifer Garner with her kids and rarely ever seen with her Ben or her with Ben and the kids, it always seems like Ben off some were else like Tom Cruise and not with his family. I’m not saying he not happy at home I just say that it’s odd, Gwen Stefani is photographed on an almost weekly bases with her kids but they’re a lot more pictures with her, Gavin and the kids. Just saying…..
According to Ted Casablancas at E….. she is a total piece of work!
i hate to talk bad about children but man. their kids are not attractive. they look too much like her.
See this is what Jennifer Aniston needs to do, adopt a cute kid and parade it around on a daily basis, her career might be fading but at least it will keep her famous.
my comment got eaten 🙁
OK, in a nutshell: Ted C has always had issues with strong ambitious women. Jennifer is a very straightforward, strong willed, ambitious woman. I worked with her on “Alias” (set dressing) and “Thirteen Again” (production assistant) and she was always really cool, nice to the crew, funny, and the kind of girl you want to have a beer with. I’ve run into her since and she always remembers me and always greets me by name and if we’re in the same restaurant, she always sends over a bottle of wine. In my experience, she has never been a “piece of work.” But that’s just my experience.
Isnt it hot in NY in August, yet here she is in a sweater, tights. the other day it was a heavy fleece. Whats up with that. And,I keep hearing how her kids are back in shcool– they are 4 and 18 months. wtf.
Liana – I am glad to hear this. I always suspected Ted C had a personal issue that caused him to dislike her.
Thanks for sharing, Liana. I’ve always thought she was very charming on film and I did like Alias. It was a bit strange to hear all that nasty stuff from Ted C. He also has said some really mean stuff about Reese, calling her Reese Bitterspoon, etc. Now we know to take anything he says with a grain of salt.
Yeah, I’ve always found him to be a bit… mean, actually. Now, I can’t say that someone else who has worked with her has found her difficult, or that there may be some things she has done that aren’t quite nice, I can only speak from my experience.
When I think of celebrities who genuinely look happy to be with their kids, Jen Garner is first on the list. Even if her marriage isn’t great, her bond with Violet is super strong, and I suspect it will be that way forever.
Oooh Violet is looking more and more like her father. Take from that what you will….
whatever. I hate they do that to horses.
Isnt it hot in NY in August, yet here she is in a sweater, tights. the other day it was a heavy fleece.
****************
It’s actually been fairly cool here the past few days.
Raven: I agree with you.
@CC, I think she looks like a mini Anna Paquin too.
Sorry- gonna take a shot here- I can’t stand Jennifer Garner and I think EVERYTHING she does is a great big photo op! There are a zillion stars with small children who do (I’m just sure of it) cute things with their kids everyday, and you don’t see them on every tab site possible! It’s not like she’s promoting anything right now….except her never ending quest to assure us that she has the MOST perfect family!
No reflection on the cuteness of her children, but I ain’t buying her act. I guess she felt the need to balance Ben’s smarmy interview of Blake Lively with some family cuteness.
Cooler, but still not long sleeve weather! Oh no, she might be getting Katie Holmes disease – constantly dressing inappropriately for the temperature!
I kind of like her, mostly from Alias, and agree that Ted C is often very mean towards her. Don’t know why.
The majority of the photos of their family are her taking the kids to school or things like that. I wouldn’t call that a photo-op, I’d call it paparazzi stalking.
I wore long sleeves yesterday and today, granted, not fleece. I wasn’t in Manhattan, but in rainy Williamsburg, it didn’t even hit 70 yesterday.
i wore long sleeves yesterday and today.
In my next life I want to come back as one of Jennifer Garners children.
Poor horses. The abuse is just horrible.
Someone may have posted parts 1 and 2 in the last post but I think pt 3 is even more telling:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxDQTfa1uTA
0:33 and 1:26
I’m in the bronx and I have my warm blanket out right now. It’s supposed to jump back up to the 90s over the weekend, but it’s been a little chilly for the last two days.
Also, I have to join a few other posters here in asking where’s Ben? and why don’t we ever see him with the kids? She seems so alone in her family life. And he seems so… Smitten with Blake Lively. Ugh, I hope he’s just camera shy though.
I think it’s sweet she took her daughter on the carriage ride and it looks like they both had fun and believe you me that horse would have been hard at work even if they hadn’t taken the ride.
Some people always find something negative to say about everything. So annoying and tiresome.
BTW Jen is beautiful and those girl are gonna be even more gorgeous because her genes mixed with Ben they seem to have made out like bandits with their looks. End of story.
beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
People in Cali are funny. Half my family lives out there and if it drops below 60 they are all freezing and layering on the sweaters. In Boston, 60 degree weather = t-shirt and shorts.
I think Violet is completely adorable but I agree about the horsies. Not nice 🙁
I’m seeing a lot of Ben in Violet, especially in that last photo. Usually she’s all Jen.
Amazed to see that so many people here are drinking the anti-carriage horse KoolAid.
Our horses lead exceedingly reasonable and content lives. They each receive a superior, formulated diet, occupy roomy box stalls, receive vet & farrier care, and are groomed and bathed regularly. This amounts to food, shelter, and medical care – which many CHILDREN in this city do not have.
Beyond these basics, they are loved by their owners/drivers; they receive affection, treats, and TONS of human interaction everyday.
Every stable has a sprinkler system in case of fire, and every stable has 24/7 stablemen. We are overseen by 5 city agencies, and not one WEEK goes by (and sometimes, day) that our horses are not checked by the ASPCA or the Dept of Health. (Let’s see Child Protective Services match that record!!)
The horses receive rotation turnout several times a year on farms in both Upstate NY and PA, and by law require a minimum at least 5 weeks vacation at pasture out of the city.
We retire them to loving, forever homes; some of the owners retire them themselves on privately owned land, others use the NY Humane Society’s Carriage Horse Adoption Program, or go through Blue Star Equiculture in NH.
There is an EPIDEMIC of abandoned horses across the country is due to what is being called a “perfect storm” of a slow economy, mortgage foreclosures, unemployment, and highfeed prices.This is a mammoth crisis – 1000s of horses being left to waste away in fields & paddocks, or surrendered to over-crowded rescues, or sold to slaughter. Maligning and hoping for a business to close down where horses lead content & exceedingly reasonable existences will only ADD to this problem.
A well-loved, cared-for horse with a job is a lucky horse – and we are lucky to have them!
Click on my name for my blog, or come visit our FB page and see for yourself:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=116185128409729&ref=ts
@Michaleen- I was drinking the Kool-Aid! I see these horse carriages all over Boston and they are lovely to look at but I was always skeptical about the conditions for the horses. I just checked out your blog and I admit-I should have done my research before assuming. Anyway, always happy to be proven wrong, ESPECIALLY when it comes to animal abuse/mistreatment. Keep up the good work! 🙂
Wow, Kitten – that is VERY Much appreciated! Thank you for hearing my side. I hope if you are ever in NYC you will let me know on my blog, and I’ll have someone introduce you around to all the horses 😉
Kitten – it’s so good to know that some people are open to being educated about the truth about NYC carriage horses. Those horses are some of the most regulated and monitored horses in the world. They’re incredibly public – so if anything untoward were happening to them the ASPCA (who has regulatory oversight of carriages and who philosophically takes the radical position against commercial use of animals for ANYTHING, even something nice like a stroll in the park) would cite the carriage owners for cruelty – which they never have!
What I see here is a nice photo op of a celebrity – whose daughter, like so many other children, is positively delighted by the carriage ride.
Why have we adults forgotten the joy of a healthy horse in harness working in harmony with humans?
What’s with all the jealous beoches here? There were pictures of Ben with his family just this weekend. Is that not recent enough for you Raven? And tslk about someone who does TONS of photo ops with her cute kids it is Gwen Steffani. She even has mentioned she dresses up for them. (The paps) I think Ted C has something against her and therefore anything he says should be taken as a lie. After all, all the people she has worked with love her and are very vocal about it so I would believe them (and Liana) over Ted C. and the witches here who admit hating her but must stop their lives to comment on the web about her (isn’t that strange?)
That kid is adorable.