Celebrity Celebrity Family Ben Affleck's 'Small' 52nd Birthday Party at Home with Kids Was 'Exactly What He Wanted': Exclusive Source "He didn't want to go out to celebrate. The kids had gifts for him, and it was cute," says the source By Ingrid Vasquez Ingrid Vasquez Ingrid Vasquez is a Digital News Writer at PEOPLE. She graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor in Journalism. Before joining the team, she worked as an Editor at FanSided and provided work in the celebrity and lifestyle space for brands that include Teen Vogue, Cosmopolitan, EW, and more. People Editorial Guidelines Published on August 16, 2024 09:55PM EDT Close Ben Affleck attends the red carpet of the movie "The Last Duel" during the 78th Venice International Film Festival on September 10, 2021 in Venice, Italy. Photo: Dominique Charriau/WireImage Ben Affleck celebrated his birthday "exactly" how he wanted. A source tells PEOPLE the actor marked his 52nd birthday on Thursday, Aug. 15 with a "small birthday celebration at home" with his kids. "It's exactly what he wanted. He didn't want to go out to celebrate. The kids had gifts for him, and it was cute," says the source. "Jennifer [Lopez] stopped by to congratulate him." Affleck is a parent to kids Violet, 18, Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12, with his ex-wife Jennifer Garner, who was spotted visiting the actor's rental home in Brentwood, Calif., earlier in the day, according to photos obtained by Page Six. Ben Affleck (L) and Jennifer Garner attend the Charles Finch and Chanel Pre-BAFTA cocktail party and dinner at Annabel's on February 8, 2013 in London, England. Dave M. Benett/Getty The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Ben Affleck Receives Visits from Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Garner on His 52nd Birthday at His L.A. Rental Home Lopez, 55, was spotted departing Affleck's rental home hours after Garner's visit in photos obtained by The Daily Mail. "The kids were with Ben for most of the day. He didn't leave the house at all for his birthday," the insider says. Affleck and Lopez tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Las Vegas in July 2022 before celebrating their nuptials with a ceremony in Georgia in front of friends and family that August. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez attend the Los Angeles premiere of Amazon Studio's "The Tender Bar" at TCL Chinese Theatre on December 12, 2021. Kevin Winter/Getty On the same day of Affleck's birthday, the singer also stepped out solo at the opening night of the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., which featured performances from Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga. The Atlas star attended the event after posting solo snaps on Instagram wearing a Dior dress with a sheer wrap design. The quick visit to Affleck's home on his birthday comes after Lopez, who marked her birthday in July, spent it in the Hamptons, away from the actor. The musician hosted a Bridgerton-themed party. Affleck was not in attendance. What's Going on with Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck? A Timeline of Their Recent Ups and Downs Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez. Gary Miller/WireImage; Theo Wargo/WireImage His absence at the event came after the couple spent much of their summer apart amid a strain in their marriage. "Considering everything that's going on, Jennifer is having a good summer. She's been off and able to focus on what's next," an insider told PEOPLE earlier in August, noting that she and Affleck, who recently purchased a new home, are “moving on separately.” Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. “Jennifer is trying to find a new home to start fresh. She always has [a] good attitude even when things are not perfect," said the insider.