I would recommend the Casio ExFilm EX-FH 20. We just got that one and love it. Its also a high end point and shoot, but it has many features and you can do almost everything manually if you like. My favorite feature is that it can shoot 40 frames per second, which is great for catching fast moving kids and animals! It's a little pricey at a little over $300, but it takes gorgeous pictures and is easy to use.
Casio High Speed EXILIM EX FH20 digital camera by Office Depot
I would stay away from Nikon and Kodak. I have had 2 Nikons and 2 Kodaks (some of the more expensive models), and none of them lasted more than a year... and the cost to fix them was more than the camera was worth. When I was camera hunting, I had several salepeople tell me that Nikon and Kodak are worst for longevity. Canon, Casio and Sony are meant to be the best.
No matter what... invest in the extra warranty they offer in the store!!! I think its usually around $50 for 3 yrs. Its the best thing ever. When I went through my 4 cameras in 2 years, I got all 3 of the replacements for free. Otherwise, I would have been out over $200 when my first one broke after 8 months of light use.