Real tree for Christmas?

Did you ever go to cut down a real tree for Christmas?
I remember we did a few times when I was little, and they were grown on sand, with those awful little sand burr things on the ground, when you'd step on them, they'd go right through your shoes and poke your feet.

The trees smelled pretty good back then. Now I dont know if I'd want to deal with all the needles and keeping it watered. Maybe in a few years. But for now, the artifical one works just fine.