Invitations aside, I think you're right. The new 'big' iPad will release first, along with the new Iphone.
The mini will be later...most likely 6-8 weeks from the holiday season.
iPad 4 rushed? That's silly. The iPad 3 was rushed IMHO. The iPad 4 is, again, IMO what the 'new' iPad should've been last year at this time. The iPad 4 is a phenomenal tablet...easily trouncing my iPad 3 across the board.
I think we might have a mellow Apple release schedule this spring...possibly into summer. Maybe new chat about OSx 10.9, iOS 7, a Mac Pro....possibly a new line of MBAs with the Haswell chips, when ready from Intel. Even the rMBP will come later this fall. We'll see...but I completely agree with the others. If past is indicative of the future, we'd have seen some leaks by now.
J