We usually get a real tree. Bubba (the thief) will remove ornaments and run with them, so we are carefull to put little stuffed one on the bottom. They also unwrap their own gifts
so I can't put their stuff under the tree until it is safe (they never bother to read the "do not open until Christmas" note). But they had a great time last Christmas. We took them and had their picture taken with Santa.